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.
Which transcript should I look for? Mine are all NA
@Monee: you have EIC those refunds wont even be done till 2/18 theres a good chance those wont even be processed yet, that’s probably why you have all 0s no other issue
@Tim Mash: Yes, both years I paid the TurboTax fee using my federal refund.
@Monee: im not sure! I have n/a for my scripts/ standard is processing with tax topic 152 on WMR…I was In another group and they were trying to figure out a pattern. I personally think the 0’s are just that they haven’t completed processing but maybe did start…?
@ Sheila_33: Sorry been slow with the responses. In Atlantic City for much needed vacation. Yes it sounds very similar to my idverify. Don’t forget @Ohio Girl: if you suspect id verify you can go ahead and try online to see if you can verify. You use your ID.ME login. It will ask you a few questions, if you need to verify you will move forward. If not it does nothing. Hope this helps
@TNic: did you have fees taken out those years? SBTPG?
So something I’ve never done is go back and look at comments and post from last years tax season…I decided to do that. Idk why I’m so worked up this year! Because things are exactly how they were last year! Lol I’ll chill now :-)
@Celina93: Last year my refund was posted to my account around 6AM on the DD but in 2021 it was deposited one day prior around 4PM
I have a DD of 2/1 and no refund posted yet.
@IHATETAXTIME: my transcripts have been all 0s since last Tuesday and my messaging hasn’t gone to still processing. There’s so many with 0s. Could we all end up doing id verify?
@Ohio Girl: If its ID verify, then you’re just waiting on the code on the letter. But, remember, we had someone named Mike that had the same as you last week, lost his bar, still processing, no transcripts and he updated the next day to a refund date. No eitc/actc. That’s why I’m looking to the end of the week to see if anything changes. :)
If my federal was accepted on 01/19 and there is something that I need to do or an issue, would a code show up on transcripts or would I get a letter?
I wonder if the “still processing” message one WMR is associated with the transcripts with all zeros? Idk…
Hey anyone received there state refund in va yet
@Ohio Girl: oh ok. Yeah that sounds like id verify. When I used to get id verify I would tell them I saw a letter coming but it wasn’t in my mailbox when I checked. Lol
Question filled 1/20 and got accepted 1/20 , my transcripts for 2022 are all filled in as of date 2/13 code 150 806 766 768. Now on wmr have path message. what is next ? does this mean my taxes are completed and now just waiting to get a date for my refund?
Which transcript should I look for? I see refund, account, record of account, and wage/income. All say NA for 2022 except the wage one.
Just a questions, when does chime usually get deposited? Like on the actual date or earlier
@Monee: last saturday we changed to no bar and still pricessing but all info on left still there including amount expected