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 on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
Hi. My transcripts weren’t available last night. I woke up this am to completed transcripts, all good codes. Just waiting for the release code after path. My as of is 2/17/25. Filed 1/28, accepted in minutes on 1/28. Check your transcripts.
@Stephennotsignedin: Thank you Stephen. It’s confirmed that I have to verify and according to the woman I was speaking with, they have until the 17th to actually send the letter with the control number. She said once I get it I can either go online or call in and just have this year and last years tax return. I’m already fed up with 2025 and we just got here. And the fact they keep saying the irs didn’t officially open until the 27th so even though I was accepted on the 15th the 21 days doesn’t start until the 27th. My 21st day is actually Monday.
Top of the morning,I wish Sheila was here haven’t seen her in a while but I stumped as to why my as of date went to 2-10 last week to 2-17 when I’m on Patg with good codes and now my as of dated pushed out to 2-24 never had this happen were supposed to be frozen never have they moved before
Anyone who filed and elected for 5 days early, when was actual deposit date as opposed to your listed DD?
Hey everyone I’m new here but had a quick question. I filed with my tax guy around 25 of January and a day later he informed me that the return was accepted. I qualify for the actc and am kinda familiar with the path act. My question is I’m still at 1 bar on where’s my refund with tax topic 152 and when I check my transcripts it states your 2024 return is not processed yet. Then I scroll down and it says verification of non filing letter on the transcript I click on. Why does it not have that transcript available when I filed and was accepted on the 26. Any help would be appreciated. Didn’t know if path delays the processing of your return
@Prttyprincess: it just means you update daily
Called the verify hotline and got a woman who was asking me all kinds of questions. She asked me like 10 questions but none of them were about last years return or refund amount. Now I’m on a long hold. So sad. I was so close to verifying I could taste it. I know she’s going to come back like wait it out. lol. ugh!
@VA757pather: mines never took this long also, mines was on processing for a week and 5 days smh, 1st time ever happening to me. I don’t have any letters from them and they just told me it’s just taking a while smh
Can someone explain cycle 20250604 to me please
@Prttyprincess: it should be by the 846 code
@LWBOSS: i just checked the site and it says still processing , my states are taking long this year, weird,!!
@RuthBaby: I filed and was accepted on the 27th. My transcripts filled out two days ago and I updated to Path yesterday. Just waiting on the 846 code now.
@Monee: aww thank you. I pray you update soon I’m in your corner support
Don’t take no for a option keep calling
I know last year I had to call 6x before they allowed me to set a appointment to go in person to verify so I said screw that I went as a walk in lol.
Here’s my prediction every one with the Path act and no issues with return and waiting for the 846 code will see a lot of Good news on February 17th into the morning of the 18th with the as of Date 02/17/25 Happy Refund 🎉
@Rere: just means they haven’t processed them yet.
@RuthBaby: Yes, I’m on PATH and my transcripts filled in last week. Just missing the 846 code.
Why does my transcripts says non-filer letter
@Stephennotsignedin: i knew it!!! So happy and excited for you. Mine is still the same so no update for me this week, but maybe someone will actually let me verify today. Lol
As of date 02/24/2025. What does this mean?
@Monee:So I did my id verify this past Friday and today I wake up to check wmr for the hell of it lol and my wmr changed. It did say it is still being processed and a refund date will be provided when available no tax topic to it is being processed.
Omg. It’s 4am in Chicago and my transcripts updated. Filed 1/24 & accepted 1/27th. My cycle code changed I’m 04 last year I was 05. Just waiting on my 846 code.
Nothing as of yet. I’ve been trying not to bite my nails over this but I’m starting to get nervous. Anyone else on PATH that was accepted on the 27th see any movement?
Since I’m one of the last ones to get updated, the rest of us should update in less than 24 hours from now. Goodluck!!
I’m a panther, filed on 1/27 accepted the same day, last 5 years I’ve been a weekly, this morning checked my transcripts and cycle code is 20250604 with a date of 2/24, so now a daily, I also have the following codes; 150, 766, 766, 768, as of date is 2/17… seems to be moving along
@DWAH:
I’m also and weekly update only on Fridays cycle0505, my as of 2/10 processing date2/17 all codes good..
But I notice on account balance there are 0.00 again and earlier it said no info available after it went from 0.00 last Friday update.. I River is my dates will push out also.. or maybe not until tomorrow morning.. I’m central time zone
IRS website down
Hi,
I filed 1/27 accepted 1/27 I am a weekly candidate I expect transcripts to update tonight Thursday -Friday? I don’t see any updates as of yet
@VA757pather: smh that’s crazy, update me whenever you get movement.
Yes some Path will get deposits around the 20th but most of us will most likely be the 26th. IRS is saying that most people with Path should have update on 22nd which is Sat for weeklies on WMR. It never fails for me but I always get DDD on the last Wed of Feb.
My transcripts all updated last week and went from as of 2/10 to 2/17. I just looked at transcripts and as of date pushed out to 2/24. Cycle code 0505. I’m a weekly so rather stumped as to why anything changed today. Been a weekly since the beginning of time..
I’m so confused . As of Date pushed back to 2/24 but cycle day still says 2/17?
I filed jan 27 accepted Jan 27
Transcript actually has numbers on it after midnight tonight. Where can I find my deposit date?