key tax return and refund dates
When can you file your taxes?
You can submit your tax return before the IRS begins processing as early as the first week of the year with many tax preparation providers. You don’t need to wait until the IRS begins accepting tax returns but you must have the proper forms and paperwork. Some forms are not available until mid January. Tax returns filed before the IRS officially opens sit in a “queue” and are held until the IRS officially begins accepting tax returns.
Your tax return may be selected in a test batch. If you e-file early and it sits in queue, your return may be sent to the IRS early. This can result in early direct deposits depending on the payment provider you select. Our cycle chart will update with key dates including test batch dates.
When does the IRS accept tax returns?
The IRS usually opens around the third week of January each year. They announce the opening date early in January.
The IRS will begin accepting tax returns in 2025 on January 27th.
When is the IRS test batch?
If you file your tax return early, it may be sent to the IRS in a test batch before the IRS has officially opened for the year. It is usually a week before the date the IRS begins accepting tax returns. This has resulted in refunds in the past that can be posted by direct deposit as early as the day after tax season opens.
When will I get my tax refund?
Early filers whose returns are accepted in a test batch can anticipate a tax refund as early as the day after the IRS opens the January filing season if your return was in the test batch. The day that the IRS deposits refunds varies for regular returns but we notice trends based on the method you chose to file and select to direct deposit. You can use our tax refund calendar or refund cycle chart to help find out when you will get your tax refund.
Where is the IRS refund cycle chart?
The official tax refund cycle chart published by the IRS has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Refund cycle charts are now published by independent websites and vary slightly.
A good reference to use is the When To Expect My Refund cycle chart that is published early each year by the College Investor.
tax refund grapevine
This is a user-to-user community of taxpayers. Share experiences and ask questions below in our Live Discussion. We have learned more about tax refunds than we ever wanted to know.
tax refund tools
IRS Update Cycle
Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.
When are Updates?
The IRS has regular mass update cycles.
WHEN DOES WHERES MY REFUND (WMR) UPDATE?
Where’s My Refund can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Wednesday and Saturday when a lot of people see an update. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see updates on Where’s My Refund.
WHEN DO transcripts update?
Transcripts can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Tuesday and Friday. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see an update on your transcript.
@Mike: thank you I just done that and it wouldn’t let me , so maby not id verify or could it be to early all I know is my trans say NA I filed on 15th I’m weekly but wmr changed to still being processed and I have bars but it says refund date when available wmr always updates on Saturday but it said that this morning
@MSRazorbackPhD: ty
@Junewes0107: They are
@Junewes0107: I think they are done doing that for the week, but I could be wrong.
Some people say they update all day, and some say they stopped at noon.
Are they still updating transcripts?
I finally got an email saying my federal return was accepted. But I do not see anything pending as for advance from Credit Karma.
I’ll keep you all posted
@Walter DOG: If you suspect ID verify, you can be proactive and check idverify.irs.gov. You can login with your ID.ME creds or IRS account. It will not allow you to do so unless you need to verify. Happened to me last year and didn’t receive the letter till weeks after I was already verified.
@Walter DOG: I filed and was accepted 1/16. Transcripts N/A with 2/13 as of date . This has happened to me the past four years. I end up having to id verify. Nothing changes so I just don’t get it. Looks like this will be year 5
Hi guys I have a 150 . 806 766 & 768 no 846 yet two dependents
What does it mean when I have only one page on my account transcripts? I have the year 2022 on all of my transcripts.
@Walter DOG: I don’t know Walt, but I can’t say it didn’t cross my mind.
@vane: those are all good codes. But with the 768, you’re going to be in the waiting game until after Feb 15th due to the PATH act.
I filled my 2022 taxes om January 22 2023 and I looked into my irs account and transcript and it shows 2022 information codes 150 766 768 and a – on the amount. What does that mean?
@Sheila_33: you think it could be id verify,mine is same for years ,Free Tax USA same address same payment method just wondering
@2blesssed: happy for you I filed on the 15 and my trans are still NA and wmr this morning says still processing and refund date when available don’t know if it’s id verify or just hasn’t processed or something else
@NY_Gal992: probably later tonight
@zhosa: If it won’t get unstuck from “pending” how do I find out that it needs fixed or it has been rejected? It is now going on the 3-day (72-hour) mark. Thank you for this information. I suspect that there is in fact an issue but there is currently no way for me to know anything. So frustrating.