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.
@DebMom: Did your wording change on WMR? Mine stayed the same as first day of acceptance but I saw a few other change to we are still processing…
@Mamatrilogy3: 3 words Free Tax USA and good morning to you as well
@Sheila_33: Good morning,what do you think now that others have updated my trans are NA and I have my bars and 152 my refund amount gone from side and still processing refund date when available I’m weekly but my wmr changed Friday morning if not earlier
@Sheila_33: Thanks! Should I be seeing an offset code on my transcript? If so what code am I looking for? Also SBTG site has my expected refund amount being the same as my 846 amount
Good Morning ☀️
Federal and state finally accepted but no advance as promised by TT. They’re even telling people that they chose wrong option instead of advance they chose open Credit Karma money account to get refund up to 5 days earlier rather than the up to 4,000 advance. Reached out to both companies (TT and CK) and was told due to high volume of cases like this, I’d need to wait for email. Very annoying experience and I will NOT be using them again next year.
@Newman: same boat
@Jersey girl: GM! same here, there is a few of us
I filed on the 17th, accepted the 18th am a weekly and woke up this morning to still one bar. Now you know why I don’t play lotteries. I couldn’t win a one man race.
@Akt: same here, it’s like they started then stopped lmao
Good Morning! Looks like I got resequenced. My account transcript has all 0’s and as of date 2/13. It looks like it tried to process but something happened because my name and address is half there. Hopefully it will fill in next Friday.
I’m in the same boat with transcripts. Filed and accepted on the 23rd with TurboTax. I filed around 9am. WMR showed one bar around mid-day. TT sent me an Accepted email around 10pm that night. No PATH. Accout Transcript and Wage and Income showed up Thursday morning, but both blank. No changes since them. For my codes, they always change. The past 4 years I was 05, 04, 05, 01……been using TT for about 10 years. Simple return and I usually have my refund within 10 days of filing. Not this year though
@Kayden: Sometimes an offset will be taken and the transcript code won’t be placed until later. The Wmr reflects the transcript so if nothing is owed then possibly you’ll see the 846 amount.
@VaGal07: Right now I think its resequencing. And since its various software’s, I think it’s the systems fault. Just didn’t get everyone through to process. Next week hopefully they get everyone thru.
@MicaNC: yes my transcript are all n/a except wage it says 2022 and its blank. My wmr changed this morning lost the bar and still processing message but all info on left is the same including my expected refund amount is correct. I’m thinking resequenced and won’t update until next friday for weekly
@Sheila_33: Turbo Tax. I saw one other person on the board last night who also was accepted 1-23 but has all zeros too. It’s like they started mine and then said nevermind. Lol. I have Account and Wage not all the way filled in with 2022 but the other two are N/A. I also had a baby in 2022 so I thought maybe they started and was like we need to double check and stopped. Or would that have prompted codes had that been the reason? I’ve not had any changes in years and years. My other kids are older now and have been removed as dependents. Do you think that could have anything to do with it?
Good morning everyone! I have a quick question, so my transcript updated yesterday with the 846 code and the correct amount with DDD of 02/01. However, WMR update this morning has the offset message? I did owe the state a small amount, but they offset my state tax. Once the 846 code is on the transcript, it’s accurate isn’t it?
Thanks!
@Ohio Girl: can you see your transcripts? I had to reset an account and waiting on a code. But it us saying still vying processed and tax topic is gone.
@Sheila_33: turbotax
@Sheila_33: Wednesday maybe. It’s been a long week.
I made it in to the early batch and everything is filled on trans just waiting on 846