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.
No update for me. I filed the 16th and accepted the 19th. WMR changed from processing to still being processed last Saturday.
I have noticed some dailies that were accepted around the 19th and had blank transcripts were updated late last night.
I’m 05 weekly and not Path.
Anyone close to my accepted date and blank transcripts have an update?
Still no change for me. Filed and accepted 1/23. Transcripts updated to 0’s last Friday with as of 2/13. No change on WMR- still the same message as when I was first accepted with one bar. I’ve been weekly for years so I’m expecting the same this year. I did look at my 2021 info and it says code 290- additional tax assessed as of 3/29/21 and then code 970- Notice Issued as of 4/01/21 but I never received anything. Was that from the stimulus payments maybe?
@Sheila_33: I kinda figured that. Her WMR changed to the Still processing message. Hopefully she will process by the end of the week. She’s a pather so not expecting anything til of course Mid Feb
@Kayden: I had the same issue and at this point I’m just annoyed. It’s fine I’ll get the balance, but who knows how long it is going to take to get reimbursed for the extra.
@Sheila_33: no. It’s still 2/13 right now
@Sheila_33: Good Morning,if your transcripts are NA and nothing no as of nothing does that mean you haven’t started to process I know I’m weekly always have been I had audit in 2021 I still have the one bar with still processing refund date when available with 152 amount gone from side but what gets me also my WMR changed Friday morning not Saturday if not before Friday I noticed it for sure Friday morning
Filed and accepted 1/25. Checked transcripts for the first time today – Account transcript has all 0s with as of date 2/20/23. I have been a daily for the past 2 years. Really hoping I don’t have to wait long…I was feeling hopeful by all the posts that say the IRS is moving quick this year.
Last year, I filed before opening day and was resequenced and had to wait the full 21 days before they processed me.
@Gwen: I was accepted on the 25th, and nothing yet. I believe the cutoff date for processing is Tuesday of each week though. So since we were accepted after that, we probably won’t start seeing updates until this Friday (if you’re a weekly as well). So far I have one bar on WMR and the TT 152 with “being processed”….but nothing on transcripts yet.
@Mrs. P(not signed in): If it doesn’t finish updating today, then it might have to try again another day to finish up. What’s the messaging on Wmr?
Last year my federal was accepted on January 30 and I got my return deposited February 9. I do not get EITC and used TT. BOA. I’m hoping for a similar situation this year.
@Sheila_33: this is the first time
@Mrs. P (not signed in): And is this the first time the account transcript updated or did she have the 2/13 as of date previously?
@Monee: Has your “as of date” changed?
Cap!Maryland haven’t processed noone
@Audra: well that actually does make sense lol! I’m still a little irritated that Ohio and IRS took the exact same amount for back taxes for Ohio. I have never ever had to pay taxes in OH til I moved to a new school district. And no one can seem to tell me why I’m always dinged for the school tax, it comes out of every check , actually on my W-2s it is two different amounts that I pay lol. I did get the letter yesterday saying they offset less than half of my Ohio tax refund for the debt, and I would get the balance in 60 days or less, so really not sure why federal took it as well
@GratefulGuy1
Turbotax, same for the last 5 years but this is my first year using Chime as a bank.