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.
@Peedoff: No I don’t believe so and while it may be faster than in the past I am pretty sure it will be at least 6 to 8 weeks sadly due to them needing to investigate the situation. So sorry. Any idea who might have had your social security info?
@KeKe: I used TurboTax and my return was accepted by IRS today, 1/23.
@Meme40: I don’t think that is true I had marketplace insurance for three months last year. and I have a new insurance but I still got that form”1095” you might want to speak to another representative
@Mike: so I got a text from Hr block saying it it was rejected. When I login it’s saying I was rejected cause the primary ssn has been filed on another return.
@KeKe: It is possible to get accepted in early batches. The IRS does not disclose the exact details of how the process early acceptances, but they do take small amounts of returns from many companies to test their systems. So it is possible to be accepted through we believe Thursday of this week. Then it will resume when the floodgates open on the 29th.
@Peedoff: I can give some insights on a paper return, I had to file my return by paper in 2017. After it was received by IRS it showed up online on WMR in about 2 weeks and had my refund within a week or two after that. Mine was paper because I did not have my identity theft pin. As far as your issue where it seems someone already filed with your ss, there may/will be a need to verify you are who said you are especially if the other return processes and a refund is issued. So no exact time frame on that exactly. When you say received an alert, do you mean you tried to file your return and was rejected specifically for a return already filed?
@DebMom: no way around it? If I paper filed and sent everything in tomorrow, do you know how long the process witl take to verify? Would it be fixed before it comes out of path
Can you end up in a test batch regardless of who you file with???
My return got rejected with tt because it said I needed to attach a 1095 a. I called marketplace and was told that my husband and I wouldn’t be receiving one because we just have insurance through our job. What do I do to refile?
@peedoff: going to have to paper file
I just got an alert that my social was used for another return already for this year, what do I do?
Lord I did it. Done lost my mind. I filed with Jackson Hewitt (needed the advance). Question. Do they get accepted early like Turbo Tax or wait until after opening day to actually submit?
@Starhild1111: you apply before submitting your return
Nevermind I see someone answered me earlier
Can someone tell me if paying my fees out of my return will delay my direct deposit?
@Liza_Love: what you had to do to get the advance? is it too late ifi already filed? im curious i could use it myself i promise you . lol