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 āqueueā 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.
Thatās 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 donāt have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your moneyās 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.
@SF: that date was published a few weeks ago. Expected to start seeing path deposits start hitting bank account by 3-03. Could be the week before but I think the 3/3 date gives them time since the holiday delayed processing by a week this year
Crazy seeing how everyoneās tax transcripts are haywire! Mines are still on as of date of 2/10/2025 with a cycle of 05 and the date being 2/17/2025. Hoping to see some movement alittle later in the day.
@Benita: exactly 14 days whole process for ddd from when it was accepted . Accepted 1/28 .. ddd showed up exactly 2 weeks later 2/11 for ddd 2/13 ā¦ received the deposit 2/12 around 10pm est on chime . As long as it stay on processing it will update soon
My processing date is Feb 24 but my as of date is now March 3
Hopefully not true, Just seen this on News Break App Filers seeking the EITC or ACTC won’t receive their tax returns in bank accounts or on debit cards until March 3 at the earliest.
It comes after the IRS opened tax filing season on January 27 this year.
The agency is expecting over 140 million individual tax returns to come through for tax year 2024.
Taxpayers should strive to meet
What is the IRS doing? My as of date has changed again from Feb 17 to Feb.24, and now March 3rd. I hope this doesn’t mean I won’t get updated with my 846 code until March.
Ugh still no updateā¦only 150 and 768
@Dragor: account transcript should be coming
@Amy Spence: the last path act I qualified for was 2021 and my transcripts filled out Wednesday Feb 17th for DDD Feb 22, 2021. BUT every year since I’ve gotten a blank transcript the first week and a DDD the very next mass update on transcripts. I just woke up to a DDD for Feb 20, 2025 after blank transcripts since last Friday. No path. Can’t argue with consistent processes.
Well what do you know, hello
846 Refund issued 02-20-2025
Now to wait on Varo
Finally updated with 150, 806, 766 and 768 w as of processing dates 3/03. I think Iām done now. Just waiting on path to lift next week.
Both of transcripts and completely filled in, all of my codes are good. I’m just waiting for the 846, which should come next Friday with a DDD of 2/26/25.
Check again mine just updated with codes. 846 DD @New: 2-20
@Morris: It is automatic but also has to do with the way processing works. They could (and should) make it automatic – it would be quite simple. But instead the return has to process again.
@Dragor:
My return transcript updated but my account transcript still shows blank. Is that normal? I am a pather so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.
@Morris: I feel the same as you; but when u googled it the IRS THEMSELVES put out a statement about it being later; it sucks because like you said itās automatic I guess they want people there to oversee the systems ; I dunno but I FEEL U
Can someone answer this question for me? I know the Path won’t lift until after the 15th. Why does it matter if it’s on a Saturday or a Sunday? I thought it was done automatically no matter what day the 15 falls on. Why is it the 18th?
Account transcript has been blank since last Friday & still blank but I now have access to Return transcript. I will give it a few hours for all transcripts to completely update. This is the 1st year my transcripts have done this. Iāve been weekly for years & never had blank transcripts until last week.
@JAYY: this tax season has definitely been a weird one. My transcripts were all filled in after the first week the irs accepted the return. So seeing no movement at all is a bit disheartening but then I realize thatās my impatience kicking in š
@JAYY: same and code 20250705
My return transcript has updated but not my account transcript. Is that weird
First time Iāve seen this (or maybe I forgot lol). My return transcript updated but not the account transcript. No codes and all zeros. Iām an 05 so I hope get the good codes today. WMR has TT 152 only.
Used to get my refund on 2/1 until 2022- didnāt appreciate that back then.
Nothing yet guess I will ā in a few hours.
Keep getting this:
Account Features Limited Due to Partial Outage
While you can still access your account, some features are unavailable, including Account Balance and Payment History. If you don’t see what you need, please come back later.
@Sophia: dang! So you updated? If so thatās awesome I hope you get that 846 soon as well! š
Hoping for mine to update as well š
Yes, every other transcript updated and one transcript showed i am weekly. Let hope for tomorrow
@cleomeo: same here! I was able to access mine after the website was down for abit and no updates still as of date of 2/10/2025 and still no 846. As far as I am aware transcripts for weeklies should update tonight into tomorrow but with how the tax season being so weird this year anything could happen.
Hope you get yours soon š
@Nikknikk: definitely wasn’t a thing until 2015. I’m 55 lol
@Amy Spence: there was no Path in 1986
Iām cycle code 05, hoping for an 846 code update soon š©
@DreamLooks: do you always use cash app? I was a bit skeptical to use it and I just want to know if youāve had issue in the pass.
@shelleybeanss: I know, I was just joking around. š
@Jocelynn: it stays down for a few hours intermittently when mass updates happen