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.
@Norainingonparades: when did you get accepted
@ChelleB: Sorry i meant i still have my bar. Filed 01/21 and accepted on 01/22
@Mbry0625: I have still have my bar. I have still processing and blank transcripts. My Wmr changed to that before my transcripts even showed up last friday.
@Mbry0625: I did
@Jessica: same exact here. I’m thinking we didn’t make the cut off. Do you still have your bar? I don’t have path so hoping Friday I get a ddd
@Mbry0625: That is my case to the “T”
@Mbry0625: I filed 1/29 and last Friday account transcripts updated with all 0s and as of feb. 19th. I’ve always been a weekly so I’m hoping for some movement Friday. im on path.
@ChelleB: do you still have your bar? And when did you get accepted? How long have you had blank account
@Txmomof3girls: do you have the verification thing on your account?
@Mbry0625: Mine did
Trying to see something. Like this if you just updated to empty account transcript with 0s this past Friday with as of date 2/19 and respond to me
@Txnate: Exactly. From what I understand, any changes or action taken will cause the as of date to be pushed out….because whatever they’re doing needs to be completed by that date. So if a letter was sent out, it would have triggered the system to change that date. Since ours hasn’t moved at all….it’s almost like we just got ‘stuck’ in the system momentarily and have to be pushed through again. I know we’ll find out for sure on Friday, but it’s just getting under my skin because I’ve never waited 3 weeks without having my as of date move at all lol
@Txnate: I wonder if thats why they are telling people they cant make an appointment until they receive a letter. Maybe giving the system time to auto correct itself. There is no way it can be that many people who have to IDV. Also i wonder if there is a difference between the ones who have the tax action on their wmr vs the ones who has it show up on their irs account
I called the IRS appointment line today to make an appointment to verify after getting the message on WMR a few days ago. The man went ahead and scheduled me an appointment since they are filling up quickly, but said a lot of people who filed before 1/29 are getting that message and he is hoping that it’s just some type of system error. He told me to keep checking and if it disappears and corrects it’s self, then I can call and cancel the appointment.
@Txnate: I wonder if it was something they just cleared on it’s own. Yours was to verify your refund correct? I think that may be the difference, those that have the take action on WMR is identity verification which you can do in person and maybe those that have the notice in their Id.Me account but not on WMR is to verify tax return which can be cleared by the IRS or waiting on the letter, maybe it’s two different verification processes. Just a theory!