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.
@Taxmomof3girls: You’re fine, no worries. But honestly, what did I ever do to you? Lol
I was accepted last Thursday so the 18th, I was daily last year; have not seen any movement on transcripts as of yet. Hoping to update tomorrow but realistically know it could be next week before I see any movement.
@Sheila_33: I’m so sorry! I did not mean to report your comment!!! I mean to hit the older comments arrow. Sorry!
@MetaAngel: I’m in the same boat as you I filed on the 20th accepted on the 22nd so hopefully we will see something soon on our transcript.
No letters on my IRS account and the IRS rep I called indicated my return was sent to the Errors dept and expect a letter in 30 days. She said it might be a letter 12c. I have a simple w2 with a high with holding and 1 ctc.
Hi All. Checking in for the day, I am hoping we see a lot of transcript updates late tonight into the early morning for our weeklies.
@JOe Shmow: On your IRS online account (not transcript area), under letters, do you see a letter listed there?
I’m not sure what’s going on but where’s my refund been down for me every since last night at 10pm, I’m a weekly so maybe it’s a good chance my transcript will update in the morning then the path message on Saturday. I was accepted last Friday. I always file on the 10th or 9th every year and always receive my refund on the 16th or 17th in the 1st batch of refunds.
@MetaAngel: You may have made the cutoff for weekly processing this week.
I filed on Monday 1/22 and was accepted the following day. I am a weekly and was wondering if I should see any updates to my transcripts tonight or if it will update for me next week? Thanks for any help!
@JOe Shmow: Seems like one of their new “improved WMR” changes. Would you mind sending us a screenshot of it?
[email protected]
@JOe Shmow: Check your previous years of account transcripts. You’re looking for new codes that may have popped up and “as of” dates updating to a 2024 date. You may find a clue what it’s about in those.
@Txnate: filled early this year. Was accepted in 1/19.
@JOe Shmow: when did you file and when was it accepted?
WMR updated today morning. It indicated im getting a letter in the mail and says if I don’t reply my refund can change. No clue what it means. No transcripts and address has not updated to new address. tax topic 152. What a tough week.
@Patiently waiting in the 954: she didn’t forget. They do this on purpose to ensure they get their cut
@Monee – Good to see a familiar name here. Last year my return kept getting pushed back too. It might have been resequenced once or twice. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again this year.
Is am be auited this year
@Monee: Ok, thank you ma’am. I couldn’t remember exactly what happened, and I haven’t had enough coffee this morning to go deep diving in the archives. :)