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.
@RuthBaby: my as of date changed from 2/17/25 to 3/3/25 not sure why, I’m Daily this year.
@willside24: for state or federal?
@Sheila_33: thank you I faxed in my w2s and defendant information and my 1040 to all 3 faxes numbers thank you so much
My DD says today how long until it hits my bank. BOA?
Well still no DDD. The as of date changed to 03/03/25. Is that a bad thing?
@Veeaz04: when did u file I called TT they said it was on hold she said no worries
My transcript is all filled in but wage tran has nothing and no dd date anyone else?
And I wish we wouldn’t have to wait another week, but on years when the dates align like this, it’s par for the course. I just don’t want people getting their hopes up, to be disappointed come Friday, because I’ve put myself through that before & know how it feels. I’m also a daily this year, so if we were going to start seeing those 846’s update this week, with a DDD for after the 15th (like some are hoping will happen)….I would have updated with mine this morning. My transcripts still look the exact same, so weeklies will not update with the 846 this Friday either. It will all happen next week, so we just have to get through one more week…..one more week! 😉
@Honeybee82: Sorry, the first part of my comment didn’t post for some reason. It should read: “I know people are hopeful that those 846’s will start hitting this Friday…”
@Hartfsuu: I was thinking the same. I use PayPal and they post early.
will start hitting this Friday. Trust me, I’ve had many years where I was stuck cycling through over & over, have had to ID Verify, etc….and I hoped I’d magically see something update sooner than it was supposed to. But it doesn’t matter if you were in the test batch, if the system has had updates this year, if you’re daily/weekly, etc….the law prohibits the system to lift that freeze with the 846 until the 15th. Since that’s on Saturday this year, followed by the holiday on the 17th….it won’t lift until the first business day after the 15th, which is the 18th. Dailies will start seeing their 846’s on the 19th & weeklies on the 21st.
@Please help: same boat called IRS they stated nothing was sent out at all
Is it normal for sbgt to have no record of me still ?? Anyone else have no record?
@757VApather: no it’s for my state refund not federal.
@Str8Nervous: updates to transcripts usually start around 3am and can continue throughout the day
Gm everyone. I’m back again for another year. I’m a little worried as to what’s going on with my transcript. Last week I updated from all 0s to the normal good codes and I have the path message on wmr. But I noticed on my transcript my processing date and as of date is the same 02/24. My as of date pushed out last week from 02/17 to 02/24 when my transcript updated with my codes. Shouldn’t my processing date be 02/17 like a lot of others. I’m a weekly with a cycle of 20250605. I’m not worried about the fact my as of date pushed out in more worried about my processing date
@LWBOSS: it’s coming u can check sbtpg if u had fees taken out
Well it’s been since last week that my WMR topic 152 went away. The verbiage just says ‘we received your tax return and it is being processed’ Doesn’t say STILL being processed. Accepted 1/27.
Shows codes 150 and 806 and nothing else for a week.
Cycle code 20250605
as of date 2/24/25
Not sure why nothing is updating for me or what the issue is.
@Wastategirl22: yes, Path lifts on the same date for everyone. However, the week that it lifts….dailies will typically see their 846 update a few days before weeklies. I have always been a weekly up until this year, and I have never received my 846 before a Friday.
@Ambo: probably just haven’t processed yet you probably will Friday morning
@J: 150 768 806
@Daniel80: yes
I updated to path message but my refund amount disappeared, is that normal?
Updated this morning. All of my transcripts are now showing. Filed 1/31 no path. Account transcript still blank with no codes, but have a cycle of 20250703 on the Record of Account Transcript.
Anyone in Virginia get their state refund?
For DDD Feb 14th? Mines still didn’t hit yet smdh anyone on the same boat as me?
@Walter DOG: and if that’s not the issue? What else could it be?
@KrunchStarKS: exactly the same.
@Guitar Man:
Filed 1/30 and accepted 1/30
My DDD just hit good luck guys
Hi everyone…will there be updates today throughout the day? Or was it just overnight?
The next update should be Friday? Code 04