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 on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
SMH woke up to absolutely no change….still at 2/17
i have codes 150/768 and 806 i see everyone with 766 is that an issue?
@Kyra: The 806 code indicates the amount of federal taxes that you claimed were withheld.
No update yet. Cycle code was 20250505, so I’ll be checking frequently today. 😭
@DAL: dang it when I called I had no offsets. Will this make processing longer?
@Kyra: 806 means w-2 or 1099 withholding
Morning! Transcripts updated, all normal codes. First time since 2019. If you were going to get a 424 code, do you think you’d get it right away or is it still possible?
Hope everyone is hanging in there
Still sitting on both as of dates 2/10. No update in 2 weeks. Yay another 2024 lol
@Jersey girl: Same here. All the codes except for 846. As of date 2/24.
Transcripts updated overnight. Filed 1/16, accepted 1/22. Path. All good codes with as of 2/24. Now we wait for path to lift. I was so hoping to switch to daily this year but nope. I’ve been a weekly for years.
Hey everyone wanted to get on here and let everyone know I got an update on my transcripts no bad codes. Walking the path so no 846 yet. Was going to ask has anyone ever had to do the verifying of return after their transcript updated? Wmr still shows 1 bar with tax topic 152. Thanks everyone
@Walter DOG: Walter I’m weekly I’m not moving. My transcripts are as of date February 17 2025 and processing date February 10 2025 how is that yours moved though to February 24, 2025 weird. Walter you and Sheila been on this thread for years that’s why I’m seeking this information from you or Sheila need help understanding this I hope I am not being auited but my codes are good sorry about all these messages thankyou.
Good morning. All transcripts were completed around 01:30 AM MST. It appears that the IRS website was down from approximately 11:30 PM to 12:30 AM. During this time, the transcripts were filled out for me; however, I did not receive any codes. Initially, I was disappointed and fell asleep. Upon waking up about an hour later, I checked again out of curiosity and found that everything had been completed. I filed on January 21st and claimed EITC. I am in the weekly 05 cycle code. Beside my 846 code is a date of 02/12, and my “as of” date changed to 02/24.
I updated today with codes 150 806 766 and 768 what is the 806 code? Am I good to go waiting on the lift?
@DreamLooks: mine is the same as of date is 2/24 but at the bottom i have date 2/17 next to the next to code 150 and 4/15 next to codes 806 and 768
Can anyone help me? I just checked my transcript and got codes 150, 766 and 768.. are those good codes
@Kj: I filed /14 accepted 1/17. My transcripts updated differently this year instead of all 0s for a while it updated to show as of 2/10 with a credit to my acct of my refund amount pretty early on. It has stayed that way until last night it updated 570 with a $0 amount…. I’m just gonna not even expect one for months at this point. Not even stress myself. Try anyway. I’ve done nothing different same job, same kids, everything.
@Kj: thnx will do @Kj: I did just a notice from a previous year for offset taxes idk nothing current @Kj:
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin:
Mine are all filled out to and got 846 refund issued code. My as of date changed to 2/24 too, but does your wage and income transcritps say “No record of return filed”
DDD of 2/12 last year I got it five days earlier today would make five days earlier but now it’s coming to my cashapp y’all think I’ll have the same luck?
@Kj: My refund hasn’t went thru the system yes non filer for transcripts for 2024 so I’m confused how could they need more information and it hasnt ran thru the system yet?@Kj:
Could it possibly have something to do with the $ they say I owe them for not filing for a couple years possibly idk 🤷♀️ that’s my best guess I have student loans but don’t have to start pay on them until September of this year so that wouldn’t be deducted any help would be appreciated
@4TeMarie: Thank you! Fingers crossed twice!
@Falysha Lynn:
971- Notice sent
Check your notices online or unless you only get them in mail
@Monee:
I was accepted jean 21 and this will be my 3rd Friday as well to stay on the “ as of 2/10 processing 2/17” but I have no notices this far online or informed delivery.. how do you know if you have to id verify.. in went from claiming 2 children to 1 children’s this year ( other is green now) but would this trigger id verify? I have 150 766 768 but dates haven’t moved and I’ve read that lathers won’t see bad codes/holds , if they have any, until update after path lifts?
Checked my transcripts this morning and they are all filled out after only account appearing last week with nothing on it. My as of date pushed out to the 24th.
Hi jw if anyone has any insight on the 971 miscellaneous transactions code please and thanks in advance all 0’s as of 2/24/25 filed 1/29/25 on Path
@All you need is love.: I’m weekly and my as of dates have moved from 2-10 to 2-17 and now 2-24 it’s the weekly’s that’s moving looks like
@Walter DOG: Thankyou Walter I am a weekly is your as of dates not moving or did it move. Are you a weekly, I am sorry about the questions just need some clarification Thankyou everything is weird with these transcripts.
@Paisley: That sounds about right, so no need for me to write it! I was scrolling to see if anyone had attempted an answer, and I see you did! Good luck, I hope you win!
If you claim depends can you get refund earlier than path hold if you did the get paid 5 days earlier?
Hi!
Any 0505 panthers still stuck at as of dates 2-10 & processing dates 2-17 again this morning?
Also, Oon WMR- Is anyone missing the refund amount on bottom.. I have 1 bat, TT152, head of a household and tax year 2024 at bottom but no refund amount?
Got my 846 code today. i filed on the 21st of Jan I am a pather I got an 02-12 date next to my 846 code and an as of date of 02-24 This happened around 0130a mst time.
@All you need is love.: your good to go nothings wrong with yours this is first year that as of dates are moving for people on path their usually frozen in place in the past but this year their moving but I have noticed it’s the weekly’s that are moving but as long as you have good codes (which you do) and have no hold codes or audit codes (which you don’t) your good just waiting on the path to lift which will be the 21st for weekly’s and if you have no hold bank you will get refund on the 21st
If you updated today with all zeros, can you update again today or will the next update for weeklies be next Friday?
@WheredaaCash@!:
Does it really allow you to view online? Because the first year i opted online , i got none of them online and had to wait on letter in mail..
Did you the 150766 credit before you got the 570?
@TaxDummy: Ive updated at q0am before….and I know it was around 10 because I was checking every half hour..lol
@SandraA: So officially weeklies update all throughout the day today? I had nothing last night and now there is an account transcript with zeros, 2/24 date. Could that change today? Thanks!
@DreamLooks: my process date says 2/17 as well but my as of date went to 2/24 , are you PATH, I don’t think it’s odd if you still have the three good codes 150 , 768 ,766
Transcripts blank only have an “AS OF 02-24-25” on the Account Transcripts all others blank. Unfortunately, delayed filing due to TT form 8283 being delayed.
Hopefully have more insight later today as transcripts are said to update all day for weeklys today.