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 āqueueā 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.
So, in my usual obsessive self, I decided to do a deep dive into the archives to see exactly when we had transcript updates before opening day. In 2019, we had test batch acceptances starting the week of Jan 14 and another batch the next week. On 1/24, we had a bunch of dailies update on transcripts and Wmr path message on the 25th. On 1/25, we had a bunch of weeklies that had been accepted in test batches, update on transcripts and 1/26, the path message on Wmr. We had a few weeklies with no path credits see their refund date of 1/30. Opening day that year was Jan 28th. So, I’m not saying that’s how its gonna happen this year, but I think its a possibility. If anyone wants to deep dive, its around page 53 in the 2019 archives. Take plenty of water and stay hydrated, and be careful of the cobwebs.
So I have never had acceptance take this long before but Iāve also never filed this early which I only did to get the advance. Iāve been āpendingā since I submitted on Saturday. Should I worry atp or will it just not be accepted until the 29tg when they open?
@Krys: On your transcript with the 922, what is the “as of” date? I ask because if it’s a 2024 date, they may be looking at the unreported income and have not decided yet if an amount is owed.
Hi! Good morning! Does anyone here have any experience with having a 922 code on their transcripts? I just noticed this for last years dated November of last year with zeros next to it. I know thatās a code for unreported income but was wondering if itās going to affect my return from this year? Should I amend now or wait until I see if my return this year is affected?
Another yearā¦
Update:
Filed FreeTax.
Submission on 1/13. Accepted by IRS on 1/22.
EITC. No transcript update yet
Good morning:I just got off the phone with a TurboTax agent That Stated Pending Status means your return is filed Just waiting for The IRS To Pull returns and accept or Reject Them in which she Stated that Should Happen between the 26th-and on forward which I donāt think is true I believe their randomly being pulled and accepted
@Messiah: Good morning nice to see you back. Log in to your tax account and access tax records and look at the account transcript. If it isn’t available, you haven’t processed yet.
ID Me is still an option to make an account for viewing your tax transcripts online. Your transcripts can provide information on your status as your return moves thru the IRS processing system. IGMR has the resources to help you read and understand the codes and processing cycles.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-identity-verification-process-to-access-certain-irs-online-tools-and-services
@Whereās my Bread: so am I and I submitted mine on 1/20
@Sheila_33: good morning how do I check and access transcripts again?
Filed 1/18 accepted 1/19 FreetaxUSA.
CTC, AOTC.
Transcripts say N/A today.
@Michigander80: It shouldn’t since its a federal hold, but each state may have its own rules on refunds. You might check the state forum and see if there’s any information there. https://igotmyrefund.com/forums/forum/state-refunds/
Good morning everyone! I’m a little disappointed to not see some transcripts updating for dailies this morning, since last year they started populating around 3:30. Then again, opening day pushed out so far was also a surprise.