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.
@Honeybee82: I was qualified but not sure if it’s worth to do the advance haha but now I’m thinking to go ahead and do it if you got more than approved. How much more were you approved?
@Veeaz: don’t know your details but the math is
Income-2500×.15×3.
2000×3 is your total ctc.
1800×3 is what will be refundable.
Subtract your whatever amount you already got from that and that’s the extra amount you would get. Hope that helped
@Veeaz: 200 more per kid. Then next year another 200
@Honeybee82: that’s awesome! At first I was thinking maybe the 22nd seeing how TurboTax had that date but must just be a generic message lol ! I didn’t go for the advance I don’t think it was even offered when I filed lol!!!
I have a question. I claim three kids my refund is 10,003 this year. How much more would I have gotten if I waited to see if the ctc gets approved ? Will I miss out or will it be added ?? I’m so confused
@Jay7: I have seen people get processed, approved and a refund date before official opening but a direct deposit would depend on the bank card. And, the return would have to be without the path credits.
Wanted to update y’all, I filed with turbo tax and got approved for an advance, well I was just accepted and just received my advance a few minutes ago. Now to wait as a Pather
@DrBlute: Congrats! I was just accepted about 10 minutes ago too…and my advance just hit. It’s actually more than I was approved for, so that’s a nice surprise lol 😁🎉
@TeeDee44: you can transfer it if you want to
@Jay7: if you get an advance, you can get a portion before they open, but the IRS won’t issue ddd before season officially opens.
@Buckey12: if the ctc is changed. Typo on phone
Ddd** not did
@Sheila_33: agreed. It’s basically last year’s cycle of events shifted a day. Instead of 2/24 did, it should be 2/23 for those that update Friday 2/16 on transcripts. 2025 won’t be so lucky. 15th is a Saturday, but we’ll save that nugget for another day.
@MSRazorbackPhD @mary: This is strictly theory, but the ctc is changed, i wouldn’t be surprised if the IRS doesn’t just automatically adjust it. A few years ago, they demonstrated they could open the tax season and send out those monthly child payments at the last minute before they made upgrades. While the IRS manual states they won’t determine your ctc, it does say later the IRS will adjust it if it is wrong (and sends a letter stating what they did). My guess (assuming it’s passed) is the irs will add code to recalculate those claiming it to the correct amount for the very reason you gave: millions of amended returns.
I see a lot of people file early. Is it possible to get you refund before the start date? I have never filed early before so I am not sure how that works.
So I’ve been filing taxes for the past 14 years with TurboTax and this is the first year I’ve opted to try for the advance. They said I was qualified for the advance. What I want to know is once the advance hits the credit karma account is it possible to transfer it into my actual bank account or does it have to stay there?
Is it better to go ahead and open a credit karma account before trying for the advance? Also does anyone know the odds on getting approved for the advance? Not really interested in the credit karma account but could seriously use the advance.
Got Accepted finallyyyyy. Now we wait at least 2/15 isn’t that far away lol. Wishing everyone an easy breezy tax season.
Filed last night in ca 9pm pst just got accepted and got the advance
Spoke too soon. Advance just hit my account
@Mom04: I just got accepted also & nothing yet. Not sure how long it takes from acceptance knowledge to actually getting it in account.
I’m also on WMR
Got accepted by turbo tax still no advance what’s going on