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.
Did anyone that got accepted already get a deposit date?
@jemar707: Yes very true they do widely differ. I learned a lot about RI after I moved back in 2016. The reason behind it is to reduce identity theft and they are tied into IRS somehow with the acceptances. And honestly I will say it is always very quick for RI I hardly ever wait more than 2 weeks after acceptance.
@everyone…. full disclosure, Sheila might have known some of this stuff. I am just the person that puts the pieces together to make this ship sail. but i know some stuff. lol
@Mike: I didn’t know that! We stay mostly out of state return answers and refer to the forum. States are so different from each other.
@ToniL Hi! Let’s go Tax Season 2024.
Yes states all do their own thing. Me for example, RI is a piggyback state in the fact that you must file your state at the same time as federal(together). RI also will not accept a state refund without a federal acceptance, obviously you can mail in certain conditions. I expect my state to be accepted next week after the 29th.
lurkers, speak up. ask your questions. we don’t judge. and hell, we might not even have the answer. Let’s talk.
Another spin around the tax sun hello everyone
yup, state is its own thing.
Some people stay connected about their state returns/refunds in our State Forums. If the conversation hasn’t started yet, the state conversation usually lags, be the conversation starter!
All divide3d by the state you live in:
https://igotmyrefund.com/forums/forum/state-refunds/
@jemar707: Your first day lol you wouldn’t say :) Found that funny. I love being on this site year after year seeing regulars, oldies newbies and the like. It always makes tax time more relaxing, since 2012 for me.
@Breezy: state is its own thing like im in MA and I was just able to efile today but haven’t been accepted yet and I usually get my state refund like the end of Feb very slow state
@Rena: The last two digits of your cycle code indicate your account receives daily updates to the IMF. Meaning, you could check your transcript or WMR everyday and might see a change! If your cycle code ends in 05, it is most likely your account is only updated weekly (on Friday). There are some, but it is infrequent that end in 05 but are still daily.
If you want to know more, ask us. Or take a look at this: https://igotmyrefund.com/daily-weekly/
What is 03 cycle code
when me and IGMR admin shows up, don’t feel discouraged to comment. Just like you…. all conversation is welcome, within reason. lurkers, newbies, oldies. say it. let’s go.
@Mike. Yup, there is a part where you can be asked about prior year AGI. If using the same preparer, they just autofill it for you. But say you switched from TurobTax to FreeTax USA then you need to know your AGI.
Beyond that, I remember TurboTax asking me for some sort of filing pin. It was xxxxxx. Not my AGI, not provided by the IRS.
I am not sure whether FTU asked me for it. It’s my first day. lol
@everyone and everybody.
There are different PINS. There is a filing pin… that is one you would have created yourself in prior years when filing your return. This is between you and your filer. (tax preparer)
Then, there is an IP Pin. That is an Identify Protection Pin. Those are issued each year and are new and unique for the year. In the past, they were mailed from the IRS. Recently you have been able to access online through your IRS account. You would have been told by the IRS that you need to use one or requested yourself.
I have learned if you ever accessed the IP online, it will never mail you again. It will only be accessible online.
These are my 2 cents.
I guess I can always print them out and just nail them in right. Then the pin isn’t required.
@Deano: Ok so you have never had an ID theft pin before? If that is the case I am pretty sure they do not use prior year PIN numbers anymore. Maybe mistaking for your AGI? Depends on who you file with like the company. Me for example I have been using FreeTaxUSA, and it automatically has my AGI from last year. I would verify you are using the right number.
Curious to see who will update tonight- everyone accepted up until this week??
@Deano: yeah I wish j had it but I don’t remember the pin. It’s it retrievable on the irs site
@Mike: Taxpayer Name
Status: Federal Ele
urn Rejected
TaxAct has received notice that the Federal electronic return for TONY was rejected by the Internal Revenue Service on 01/24/2024.
Because a State electronic return was transmitted along with this Federal electronic return, the State electronic return has also been rejected.
The Federal electronic return was rejected due to the errors) shown below:
Rule Number: IND-181-01
Rule Number Description: The Primary Taxpayer did not enter a valid Identity Protection Personal
Identification Number (IP PIN). To review your IP PIN entries, click Federal – Miscellaneous Topics – Identity Protection PIN. Then repeat the Filing steps to resubmit the return. Please visit https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity=protection-pin for further information and resubmit your return with the correct number. This return will not be accepted without a valid Identity Protection PIN.
The Submission ID for this return is xxxx.
Although this return has been rejected by the
I have a question… Does your state get accepted on the 29th as well? Or does it get accepted whenever you file? Because I thought you received the state first!
@Michelle P: There is a backlog on amended returns, since they have to be manually addressed and entered in the system. At this point, it’s just a waiting game.
I filed an amended return 8 weeks ago for my 2020 tax return. I have checked the amended return status daily and it shows nothing. I also called in twice and they won’t help me they said to keep checking and call back one it has been 20 weeks. I have checked transcripts and nothing. Is there anything else I can do?
@Mike: hey thank you for jumping in there I’ve never had any trouble with that I was under the impression kept the same pin every year I did go back and look at my last year’s return there’s a pin there but it’s blocked out with stars and one number five in total
@Tony: Can you clarify more regarding the rejection of pin? Are you talking about an Identity Theft Pin?
@Tony: I looked up on Google the info about rejected returns because of a pin that’s what I meant by that
@Tony: is it the same pin you had last year I looked it up on Google the pin you’re trying to use is not matching what the IRS has otherwise I’m not sure if you have last year’s pin try that just a thought
@MoCarr2118: that will change when you are processed