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.
Big updates tonight for all those who have blank transcript . It’s not an 846 but at least you all will have some movement to walk the PATH! Non pathers get yall carts ready. lol.
If you had to ID verify last year , what are the odds that they will make you do it again this year?
@ImpatientlyWaiting2024: It will not take that long. I had to do that 2 yrs ago. I fell right back into processing like I never left lol. I got mine right along with everyone else on feb 22. Good luck!
@ImpatientlyWaiting2024: I had to id verify last year and I didn’t get my refund until April. Until last year, I’d always gotten it the week after PATH lifted. So maybe not nine weeks, but maybe not when you normally expect it? You never know with the irs though.
@texasmomof3: thank you 😊
👋 hey everyone, I’m a weekly last year my transcript updated on a Friday with 846 code on sat I got my 2 bars my ddd date was that following Thursday but the money hit my card on Tuesday that next week 😁🤞fingers crossed it’s the same this year 🙏🤑
@Jenny04: In my opinion, I don’t think anyone will start seeing transcript updates with a refund code until next Wednesday if you’re a daily, and Friday transcripts if you’re a weekly. You have to process and place the 846 and since Monday is a holiday, processing will be on Tuesday and transcripts on Wednesday.
PATH – protecting Americans against Tax Hikes is the what PATH stands for. It was enacted in December of 2015.
I reviewed my transcripts today and noticed a verification notification basic message says no return found. Called the IRS was advised there was a problem with my return. It was verification of identity. Due to me being a declared disaster area, she allowed me to ID verify over the phone without a letter. One hadn’t been issued.
She confirmed I verified then said it could be 9 weeks. Is this true. My return was received on 1/23. I was under Path anyway. The verification inquiry was dated today 2/13
@Shelia_33: Did you see any of my messages? You have never stir me wrong when it comes to tax time. You are almost right on key
@Amy Spence: you can clearly look it up and what it means and it explains what PATH is. It was enacted in 2015 and this is directly from sources provided by the government. It was not enacted in 1986 or whatever year you put.
@Starr: I think you may have made the cut off. Fingers crossed. :)
@Monee: I shouldn’t have to id verify cause I already did thru Id.me right after i filed mine and my husbands taxes on the 31st of jan. I doubt it’s id verify though
@MaryB: So the week of the 24th then?
@Sheila_33: I filed Monday 2/10 do you think maybe tonight I might have an update on my transcript tomorrow morning? I am a weekly .
@Nc_Sunshine252: There’s been years where I had not ever gotten the PATH message and my refund was still in the first batch released. This year I have the PATH message and am scared lol and my “as of” date changed from February 24th to March 10th but all my codes are good on my transcript
@Monee: yeah you’re right, I had to ID verify last year and it would tell me the same thing online….that no information was available. I just had to wait for my letter to come, then followed the instructions to verify.
@Jenny04: i had the message without the 152 and it was id verify. I think still having the tax topic and bars is a good sign
@diana b: I think that there will be Tuesday updates on transcripts for some with 846s, and deposits start that day if your bank foes not hold. And there could be some earlier for transcripts (smaller batches have happened on days other than Tuesdays and Fridays – I know there have been Sundays before and other days).
No one can say for sure. This site is sort of educated guessing and we are all giving our own hypothesis.
For those having to ID verify, when you file your return do you submit your ID? Even doing ours online, H&R Block has us entire ID info (we use our DLs and have to enter the number, dates issued and expires.
@Jenny04: If there are no issues, I would say the latest you are likely to receive it would be the 26th (sooner if you have a no hold bank).
@Walter DOG: it can still be id verify if it doesn’t say online. Mine kept saying it couldn’t help me, but I had to verify.
@MaryB: I do have the PATH credits so ill see a DDD next week for the week of the 24th then, huh?
My wmr message didn’t change today so my transcripts better still say 2/10 tomorrow. The as of date better not move. Don’t play with me IRS! *insert angry face*
@MaryB: so we wont see 846 any time soon
@Jenny04: one of two things usually with that message ,google irs id verify online and go through the steps to verify if it says we’re unable to provide assistance then it’s not id verify and the other reason is you just got to cycle through again and you will update just behind so either id verify or probably just got to cycle through again
@Honeybee82: yes let’s all be kind!!! And thank for your time…much appreciated…