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.
@Tori3: Correct I filed TurboTax 1/15/24 Accepted 1/19/24 Fees Taken from refund though.. I’m a Pather as Well :)
@Where’s my Bread: Same.
Filed 1/17. Still pending.
Thank you guys for the kind words! Yes, It’s very hard for everyone these days. Pretty sad when you can’t afford to pay your bills AND eat when you get paid anymore. Keeping everyone in my thoughts.
@Broke_Momma39: so sorry to hear this. I hope and pray that you get accepted soon so you can get an advance. I pray that as the year goes on, you will see a breakthrough in your finances. God bless you!!
Still not accepted
Filed 1/17
Today 1/23 still pending
@Tori3: *fell
I’m a PATHer and I filed my taxes through Turbo tax yesterday….today I got an email that said my Federal was accepted….I assume this means I also feel in that “test batch” correct?
@Broke_Momma39: I’m so sorry you are struggling. You are not alone. Trust. So many people are struggling worse this year than others.
You’re not alone. That doesn’t fix things. But maybe you can get a refund advance.
@Imarefundaholic: yes. ID.me is the only way this year to access transcripts.
@RJ: paying with your refund will delay it by 5 days … usually the 846 will post on a Friday for weeklies … anyone with NO FEES or paid up front will get deposits that same Friday afternoon . With fees from refund they will send out the money that’s following Wednesday/thursday
Desperate for a refund advance knowing I won’t get my actual refund until March because of the Child tax credit, I filed today in the hopes it would be accepted early so I could get my refund advance. The level of financial stress I have weighing on me is worse than it’s ever been. I see some of you filed and were already accepted. I don’t expect that to happen here (just my kinda luck) but congrats to everyone who now only has to sit and wait for their money!
Do we have to use ID.me now to access transcripts?
Just got accepted. Right now on TT it’s saying my est refund date is 13Feb. Transcripts still haven’t updated, but WMR is saying that the return has been received.
Just got accepted. Right now on TT it’s saying my est refund date is 13Feb. Transcripts still haven’t updated, but WMR is saying that the return has been received.
@Walter DOG: Same socials, it will be rejected more than likely.
@Sheila_33: not anymore it won’t let you it use to in prior years but not this year I ask them to but they said they couldn’t you think it’s going be a problem don’t want id verify but my one that was accepted had all 3 of my dependents so I wanted to remove my oldest because she made over 4700 but she not filing and my refund is the same no different with her off
@Walter DOG: Most likely will be rejected so hopefully not a problem. I do believe that if your return hasn’t been accepted by the IRS yet, you can go in and pull and adjust it with the FreeTax software.
@kathyarzola: that’s awesome and your transcripts already filled in ? Wow that’s fast!
@Sheila_33: I filed another one with free tax USA my first one was accepted today I tried to get free tax USA to send the other one back to me but they said it wasn’t a problem that only one would be accepted and it was accepted today so my other one with free tax USA they said would be rejected do you think that will cause id verify
@Kristen R: I got that earlier but have now been accepted…let me check again…yes still get that.
Yay! Got accepted.
Was hopeful to beat someone we anticipate may attempt to fraudulent ly claim two of our dependents.
Can that still happen?
@Walter DOG: You filed another one Walter?
@DrBlute: January 18th
Guys- so I discovered my job had posted our W2s very early this year. So I filed last week. It was accepted last night after 10. My question is do you guys think I will be in that first batch of checks?
@Sheila_33: thanks Sheila I got worried so I filed with free tax USA so I made another account with free tax USA and filed another tax return with my oldest not on there as dependent that’s how I know nothing changed refund amount the same but since my first one was accepted today when my other one gets rejected you think that will cause id verify I just panicked when I seen my daughter made over 4700
@kathyarzola: when were you accepted ?