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.
Geeez!!! got a 1099c today 3 days after filing! Now what do I do?…sad
@Monee: okay thank you! Cause I just freaked all the way out hehe.
@Sheila_33: nothing has changed for me. I have checked all day. Lol. Maybe tomorrow???
@Mrs. P (not signed in): don’t worry. I had the wrong ein last year and it was fine
@EricaChristyne: it shouldn’t be an issue as long as you don’t both try to claim them at the same time
@KDinAZz: Hi! Acceptance time has varied from immediately to a few days around here so far. Who did you file with? I used Free Tax Saturday, it took 8 hours to get the acceptance notification. It was a stressful wait! Hope you get notified soon.
@Mike: I thought you had same as me I have my bars still processing refund date when available amount gone from side now I’m going to worry a bit more lol!
I have a question: Is it OK for my kids father to claim them one and the next year me. Would he get in trouble for it? They live with me. All three of them and he is only claiming two of them but they don’t live with him. Thank you.
I am totally freaking out. My job gave me the incorrect EIN and I’m just realizing this after my stuff has already processed 🤦🏽♀️.
@Deano: I had the same expierience.4 am day of. But. Even though our sbtg still says unfunded . The bottom
Two that say refund paid to you show that it was Oates to us 1/31 and already paid . That’s new for me .
Yes there is another Mike, I am the one who has been on here forever lol. I did go through almost the exact same situation last year, bars disappeared, nothing on transcripts. It was that way for a few weeks until I called and found out I had to idverify. After successfully doing the verify, I was processed that same week with a DDD. This year, I did lose my bar on Thursday of last week. Updated to return still being processed, and refund amount missing. I am daily so my transcript updated Friday morning with an 846 for 2/1.
@VaGal07: your good no worries ,Friday morning your transcripts will update wish I still had that message these other messages worry the crap out of me
@Sheila_33: your awesome Sheila the Mike that got refund date i think he said he had same thing on wmr as I have which I have never gotten this message with my bars and not before my transcripts updated but im weekly and it changed to that Friday morning weird still NA
@Walter DOG: My WMR says the same thing as the day I was accepted. We have received your tax return and it is being processed. With TT 152.
@Walter DOG: We have 2 Mikes. One has processed and gotten a refund date and one is waiting with 0s. Confusing but I’m trying to get it straightened out lol.
@Sheila_33:
Glad to see your still here!!
I just filed and already anxious as it’s still not accepted and been over an hour
@GmoneyLee: really im done nice. I thought i would have to get reviewed again and wait for deposit date