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.
@Christina92: I have seen quite a few that have been accepted. I filed with TurboTax also but still haven’t been accepted yet.
Okay I got a question
So I did my taxes through turbo tax with my last check stub and when I got my we it all matched up but I was hurting for money so I went and let a tax pro do my taxes so I could get a advance on my return well I was able to get 6k in a advance when she did them but I had completely forgotten I had did my taxes through turbo well I should say I forgot to let my tax lady know
Amy ways my turbo return got accepted before they accepted the one my tax lady did. My question is what should I do I mean I know I should pay the loan back but will they allow me to repay it once I get my taxes back or will they try to take it from the refund before I even get it or will they try to take it out if my bank that I had it deposited into.
Filed 01/11/2024 with FreeTax. Accepted 01/16/2024. Fees paid upfront. Earlier today WRM on phone said received being processed but WMR couldn’t find me. Just now, 01/17/2024 at 238pm (PST) have one bar on WMR.
@Christina92: I filed 1/7/24 was accepted in test batch yesterday 1/16/24
Anyone file with turbo who has been accepted early in test batch?
@Sheila_33: my brother won 2,500 on the lottery they gave him a form to file with his taxes now he owe both STATE & FEDERAL this year no dependents
https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-test-batch/
@Chris: I’ve seen batches accepted all day, from mid morning until evening, but no set hours I know of. And, they are accepting throughout this week and possibly may next week.
@Red Dawn: I will share a link that might help, but I’m unsure how that would work. When I won some money at a casino a couple of years ago, they only took state taxes, so not sure how it works when they take both from the winnings. https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc419
Do they do test batches between certain hours or is it all day?
@ab: I received my id theft pin in the mail on the 10th of January
@BrittW89: And no your not alone
Several other people on this website are accepted as well
I just got accepted!
@BrittW89: Your are the test batch
They continue through next week
No worries
I just received an email that my return was accepted by the IRS. I thought they wouldn’t be accepting until the 29th…. Anyone else been accepted today?
@Sheila_33: i did have a question about filing a gambling winnings. So how does that work if I already paid all the federal and state taxes?
@StephenfromrosewoodNC: – I only see 2023 Wage and Income. The other 3 have N/A. To be fair, last year I filed early and received refund on 02/08/2023 and my transcripts did not update until right before I received my refund. Up until that time I only saw N/A.