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.
@LoveMy3Munchkins: might not be waiting long they’re moving swiftly this year
@Jenny: any good news yet hoping we get good news soon
@LilyinVA: you sister have bars or no bars and tax topic 152 ,did her bars go away or still there with still processing
@Uhohdani0z: after the 15th. Path Act has to lift first
Hey y’all. Back for another year. I filed my taxes about an hour ago an they were just accepted. An the wait is on.
When are they processing returns with additional child tax credit?
@Gators352: 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Update return transcript today not account transcript cycle code last two # 02 Being processed message on WMR no Path message yet Irs Received on 01/26/23
@Betsy: is that a government entity? If so yes
@Betsy: yes they will.
I got a question. If you owe the Employment Security Commission money will the IRS give them your refund??
Hey guys!! Just filed about 25 minutes ago so we’ll see how this goes lol 😂
@Gators352: ty so much so much
@taxtime69 patientlywaiting is right there were many ppl who didnt update to the path message, but still received their refund.
Ohhh how I miss the days when Maryland used to process refunds in less than a week. Every year I would file opening day Monday and would have my money in my account by that same Friday at the latest. Now it went from 4-5 days to 4-5 weeks…… Doesn’t make any since. Mine still says return not yet processed… Come on now yall can’t even acknowledge that you received it.
I saw a state tax refund for like 6 g’s on Facebook, I think it was Michigan or Maryland. A M for sure, but I’ve Never seen anyone with that big of a state refund in my state,crazy how they differ.
@Taxtime69: your WMR may update this weekend remember there’s a massive update this Wednesday and Friday/Saturday early am
@LilyinVA: your transcripts are still blank because they have not processed them yet your sis returned are being processed that is what still processing mean it means exactly that still being processed they have not finished processing them they are in the process but haven’t finished
@Taxtime69: I haven’t gotten the path message as of yet.
Hi all I have a question or two. Ok I filed and was accepted 1/19. My transcripts are blank and my wmr has 1 bar. My sis filed accepted 1/19 she got the still processing message and she can’t see her transcripts. Does anyone else have one of these situations? Thanks everyone.
@Patientlywaiting1987: alright thank you , did you this year ?
Just waiting on my state refund I have to pay federal
@Brit83: state.
@Taxtime69: I don’t think so. Last year I never went to the path message.
I’m a pather and my wmr hasn’t changed to path message accepted 1/20/2023 does that mean anything bad ?
@Vulcan1963: it varies. I filed and was accepted on 1/23 simple return. No credits just a small overpayment being refunded and still at one bar, being processed and blank transcripts
@Justwaiting: yes
@patientlywaiting1987 – Do you owe the FEDS or the State?
@CC: yes
@Justwaiting: Same, mine was accepted on the 19th. I feel like there should be some movement! its just sitting there