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.
@Nik: only if you had no fees taken out and have a no hold account. So far I haven’t seen anyone who saw anything for fees removed
@Michigander80: I know there are a few people from your state here. If you don’t get any responses you can always pop your head in at our state forums. They are separated by state.
State Refund Forum:
https://igotmyrefund.com/forums/forum/state-refunds/
@Kimikaze: I just had it to where Turbo tax deducted fees from my refund.
Hey anyone in Michigan the website is blank for state taxes when you put in your info, but if you call the Michigan states automated number and put in your info it says your return is pending review until April 12, 2024. Is it doing this for anybody else??
@Breezy336bay: If you claimed either of the EITC or ACTC credits, it might not have appeared on WMR yet. Do you know if you claimed those?
@Poogie: Thank you!! I could use all the good vibes..I’m definitely in the hair pulling stages
@IGMR Admin: ok well I don’t have a PATH message on my WMR.
@Vee-az: There will be a code on your transcript and it should say something along the lines as “refund applied to non irs debt” on your transcript. I cannot remember the code off the top of my head. I would assume they would take it from 2023 refund, but not positive. Either way you will see the code pop up on your transcript if they do.
@Sheila_33: oh my, after catching up I see that. I hope it is just a glitch in the system. Seems like every year it is something new with the IRS.
@Vee-az: Next return if you do not make a payment plan with them or pay in full by next return.
I filed my taxes and I’m currently on path message my transcript are good so far just waiting on the 846 code. But today I got a letter from des unemployment saying I owe them $1800 and they notified irs ect will they take it from my refund this year or next ? And how will I know they if they took it will there be a code on my transcript
@ Breezy336bay: Nobody will see anything except the Path message on WMR until the 16th if they claimed credits EITC or ACTC. See lines 27, 28 and 19 on your tax return.
President’s Day will play a role with PATH this year. If it works like other years:
Thursday 2/15 PATH “expires” but we won’t see anything change on transcripts or WMR.
Friday 2/16 transcripts will be updated with Code 846 Refund Issued for Thursday 2/22.
Saturday 2/17 WMR will update with Direct Deposit Date for Thursday 2/22.
*There are cases where some people may get a direct deposit earlier than 2/22. In the cases where someone meets all of these conditions 1) Paid Fees Up Front 2) Did NOT take a refund advance and 3) uses a NHB (no hold bank), a direct deposit could be posted to their account 1-4 days earlier.
In these cases we anticipate the first date actual money could post is Friday 2/16 in the early afternoon.
*There are cases where instead of 846 you could see other codes/messages on your transcript/WMR respectively. You can learn more about transcripts in our post.
@Nik: I have regular Wells Fargo and my DDD was 02/07. I received it this past Saturday 02/02. I paid fees upfront.
@Nik: I have seen a few say they got theirs today along with some on Friday. Do you have a refund loan or preparation fees that need to be deducted from your refund first?
@Jaz: once you have been processed the PATH message should show up for you unless it’s after 2/15 then you may not see it at all (also normal)
Anyone with a DDD of 2/7 receive their refund yet with a no-holds bank?
when do us Pathers update? I filed and got accepted on February 1…. does it update to the path message after the 15th?
@Txmomof3girls: Thank you! Hoping that is the case!!
@Buckey12: you say it should be by the 16, is that because you are a PATH? And how do you know if you fall into that category?
@Sharon. O: You should see your next update to transcripts this Friday.
@ashleyrenae113: It’s possible you may not see any more movement until Friday again. I would check transcripts tomorrow into tomorrow night but if they don’t update then I would check again on Friday.
@ConfusedInOhio: Remove all doubt and speak it into existence! It WILL update. And if it wasn’t truly accepted until 02/02, then I definitely feel like it would update tomorrow because that would be the one business day that it took for me. I know you said the message showed up on 02/01 though, so that’s odd if the tax software doesn’t show it being accepted until 02/02.
👋🏻
@ashleyrenae113: I have an as of date for 2/19 as well. Does that mean that taxes should be released by that date if not before? And how do you know if you are a PATH or not?
😊
I’m a weekly . I filed last Monday and on Friday updated to all zeros. I was just wondering what that meant
@Poogie: thanks, hope your right! Have to wait for federal until the path lifts
Looking for some guidance. Do you think I will update tonight?
Filed and Accepted 1/24- Transcripts updated to partial fill out with as of date 2/19 on Friday. Was a weekly for years and then last year changed to Daily. NO Path.
@ConfusedInOhio: I feel like it should update tomorrow for you. Mine took one business day from manual review to return processed but your dates are not too far off from mine and there was a weekend in there, so yours could very well update tomorrow.
@Poogie: filed on 1/29, message showed up on 2/1 but turbo tax says it was accepted 2/2 idk what times the ohio refund site updates
@IGMR Admin: I appreciate you and everyone else. Coming here has relieved a lot of my tax anxiety over the years. Lol. I can never just file and let stuff play out.. I always come here to see what’s up. Lol. Tax season is a stressful time, so I appreciate your efforts and those of the Mods and Admins. Now that I am aware of the ability to browse prior year comments, that is another resource I can use. Thanks! 😊
@ Poogie: I am just sitting here trying to fix it all. lol. It’s so funny how tone just doesn’t come across. It’s a frustrating time of year for everyone.
I am just making it worse. lol
I promise we are just trying to help. Mods and Admin do a thankless job sometimes donating their time.
Also, some people like to do a deep dive into prior year comments.
@ConfusedInOhio: this was my first time seeing that manual review message and it had me perterbed. Lol. I filed 01/29. State was accepted and went to manual review on 01/30. On 01/31 it updated to state that my return was processed and released as of 01/31 and to allow 5-7 business days. When did you file?
Ok so I found my transcripts,what does the “As Of” date mean ?
@Sammie: I don’t know. I’ve never seen so many id verifies popping up. I think this year is giving last year a run for its money.
@IGMR Admin: I understand! It’s no trouble at all. At least I know for the future. Knowledge is power. Lol. I saw the response to my first question but I posted some additional context and a second question (which you included in your repost) that I did not see an answer to, so a search function would have helped me so I didn’t have to harass Sheila. Lol. Thank you again!
Just here to see what’s going on.
@Sheila_33: Yikes. If it was answered 6 hours later, that is probably why I missed it. Lol. Sorry about that. But I also posted a follow up question a little after that. Can you repost that response as well? I was daily last year, so I am hoping I don’t have to wait until Friday. Lol. Thank you!
@IHATETAXTIME: That’s great! I just know if you go back on here I think to 2022 you’ll see where I was complaining that my return was taking so long because of the address change.
@Poogie: I still have the manual review since 2/1 had it last year too but cant remember when it switch to processed. I get that manual review message every year but it is taking longer this year I do know that much
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