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.
CP2000, that would be the letter you would have received.
“…Respond within 30 days of the date of the notice or 60 days if you live outside the United States for a quick resolution. Use the enclosed envelope to…
If we don’t hear from you by the response date on the notice, we’ll send you a Statutory Notice of Deficiency….”
So it shouldn’t hold you up unless they say you owe us. It’s pretty much how it should work.
https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc652
@Txmomof3girls: .. it update yesterday “Friday” with a as of date of Feb 19th
Filed and accepted today. Praying everything goes smoothly 🙏🏻 last year we were suppose to get direct deposit and the dummies mailed us a check
@notaTaxGuru23: if you don’t respond to an underreport letter, damn it let me look it up, I forget the notice number. Anyway, if you don’t respond within “x” number of days it just shows on your account that you owe the amount that they determined.
@notaTaxGuru23 :Did you get an underreporter letter? What they do is “automagicially” (like my term?) recalculate if they think you under report and if you owe they just “say so”. You have a chance to reply. If it was still within that reply period, I think you would be fine.
@jemar707: yeah the facebook group almost 60% of the people in there have to verify . mine finally updated to the form to where i have to enter in the 14 digit control number and then they will release your funds but who knows when this letter will come .
@Txmomof3girls: it was actually several thousand because I had paid too much in. It was pretty much FN annoyed with them… but how is that different.
@jemar707: quick question about this. My account transcript got updated Friday from n/a to 2023 and it’s accepted right now with no notice, but I noticed a 922 code with 0 on my 2022 return with date 2-12-24. Looks like maybe a mismatch of wages last year . My 2022 return also showing as of date Feb -19 similar to my 2023 return. Will this delay my 2023 return? People say it shouldn’t
@jordanbk24: it seems this year there are significantly more people experiencing IDV.
this new verification crap is annoying… wonder how long its going to take to take to get this letter now smfh seems like ALOT of people have to do it this year . Ridiculous !
@Txnate: lol I play off the wall video games that most people have never even heard of, but boring isn’t always a bad thing sometimes it’s exactly what is needed to calm a racing mind. But I wouldn’t exactly call it boring, just more laid back than the action packed CoD or Red Dead Redemption, etc..
@Drew: when did your account transcripts become available?
@jemar707: and your interest was probably .18 cents 🤣
I’m a PATHer … my WMR is still on 1 bar and my Account transcript updated to Feb 19th .. anyone have any idea when I will update again ?? I’ve been a 03 & 02 last 2 years on cycle
@Honeybee82: you’re right that was a quick turn around time for that check. I remember the last time o got a check from IRS it took forever to get to me.
I had an amendment that took 18 months. But they owed me money if that meant anything.
@Jocelynn: considering the type of game it is most people would find it boring
@ Txmomof3girls: I fixed interesting it for you. lol. thinking it was mine.
@RJ: I can tell you too that when I amended a return a few years ago it took several months for them to complete the return. I think I only got back a couple hundred dollars from it but it took several months. I think I sent the amendment in March of that year and did not get the check until June or July.
I am editing the wrong damn comments thinking they are mine… lol sorry if that was confusing.
@Txmomof3girls: Not to mention how quickly it came…in roughly just a week’s time, give or take a few days. The IRS is crazy this year 😂
@Txnate: I’m full of surprises! Lol why are you surprised?
RJ: I think you will be fine. There are sometimes there can be a mismatch with income that has been submitted to them on W2s. It happened to me before. But I am pretty sure it was random. Just check to see if you need to AMEND after your return is finished processing. But it sounds like you are good to go.
You won’t know it’s officially “approved” until you see the 846 code. But the earliest to see that is 2/16.