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 at all have good news this morning???
@ChelleB: So do dailies, but they can update any day if there’s an issue that’s resolved and put back into the system.
@Sheila_33: oh okay. I thought weeklies only processed one a week anyway?
@IHATETAXTIME: ID Verifies won’t show on a transcript but income verification, that one throws me because those usually show up as 570s. Really haven’t figured that out yet.
It seems like this year a lot are getting to verify letters, so confused if nothing has changed with all my information
@Sheila_33: it’s insane! Then I wonder, if WMR shows what is on the script…why hasn’t my script updated for notice or anything else this could be? It’s just stuck! All 0’s but has all of my correct info. This is wearing me down!
@IHATETAXTIME: Maybe. I understand they revamped the Wmr to show verifies but the tax account really surprised me. So, at this point, the overwhelming amount of id verify makes me wonder.
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: Thank you for the information! They’re telling me to wait 21 days from the date I filed for the letter and if it doesn’t come within that time frame then I can verify in person. Did they make you wait as well?
I really wish u guys would understand that the as of date is a bookmark. They have until that day to view your return and decide on if their going to hold it, or push it thru processing .
Idk what’s going on this year but we filed TT same as every year, we haven’t been notified if our GA state was accepted so I finally checked and the GDOR website says they have received and are processing our return which I would assume means accepted….this year is a strange one for sure
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@Sheila_33: do u believe this is the case for this crazy ID verify as well? The only thing that changed on my account would be my address but that is updated on everything even my prior year scripts. Other than that literally everything is the same.
@Sheila_33: Thank you! I’m hopeful that it’s a case of slow processing, wonky systems this year, or even being stuck and needing to be pushed through. I would really be bummed if I was pulled for review, considering nothing really changed on my return this year (just a couple very small things). I just have to make it two more days to find out either way lol 😄
@Missy: You don’t have to but it would help reduce your tax liability.