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.
@Angie2345: I’m sorry your going thru it as well but glad to know I’m not alone
@KDinAZz: Don’t refile it may cause conflict and further delay of your refund.
@KDinAZz: I am going through the same thing. It has never taken this long before. I filed yesterday.
@KDinAZz: I filed yesterday with Freetax as well and was just accepted 5 minutes ago.
Filed yesterday and still have not been accepted yet. Has anyone else ever experienced this?
@Alex: ok I thought they
Would have to get processed again
@Michael: because the IRS still has not accepted my taxes its been over 24 hours now and usualy its within 15 minutes.
@mona: Thank you! This is the first time for PATH for me. I’m not sure why I am. Hr block did our taxes so hopefully they did them right. I called just waiting to hear back from them 🙄
@mona: no, got are just waiting on the release code!
Hello, does anyone know what’s the income limit for married filling joint?
This morning around 9am my as of date changed to 2/20 now it is back to 2/13. Did anyone else’s do that?
@KDinAZz: why would you refile when you just filed yesterday 🤔
@msjones724: Should have no bearings on your last name. I didn’t legally change my last name until a few years ago. My husband and I had been married at least 14 or 15 years when I went to SSA. Although I would file with my maiden last name, I could still see our transcripts on my account, because my social security number did not change.
@Gwen: Feb 15
When does path lift?
@Tarabel: ???
@mona: 👀👀
My transcript updated and have a as of date of 2/13 codes 150 806 766 768 and have wmr message for path act. what is next in my refund? Is my refund processed and done with and will see a date for refund or will they have to process again the taxes
Still waiting to get accepted…filed yesterday with freetaxusa…went to see if I should refile and the other sites are a headache compared to freetaxusa. Guess I’m gonna wait til Friday and refile it not accepted then
@Walter DOG: i have all codes except 846. I got 150 806 and 768.
@Malia: Exactly!!! It won’t let me see anything and I’m so used to being able to see updates via transcripts and I feel like I’m in the dark . Very frustrating. I thought wmr would have some update by now but it’s still early I guess
@Audra
Just wanted to let you know that I just now got a deposit from OH for the debt being taken from state and federal taxes. Guess they are on it this year lol!
@msjones724: I’m wondering the same thing. As I got married last year and changed my name as well but on my online transcript’s still has my maiden name. I filed 1/23 as well wmr says it been received but I still want to know if I can check transcripts to see when things update
I’ve been a weekly for years. I just went to check my transcripts for the fun of it and they are all filled in minus the 846. I’m now a DAILY cycle code ends in 02 now. YAY!
@Desdabest: oh ok thanks
Hi all. So not sure if anyone would know, but I got married last yr so it’s first yr filing married jointly. My online IRS account still has my maiden name so it won’t show anything on the transcript. But we got accepted Jan 23rd we didn’t qualify for the EITC this yr but we did claim credit for our 4 kids. No update yet on wmr but just wasn’t sure if there was any other way I can view my transcript online or since my name changed I gotta look request it by mail?
@LWBOSS: the feb 13th just the processing date. Your refund will process for a ddd for after the 15th
I’d my 2022 transcript is NA does that mean I won’t get a return soon? Is it possible they update right before DD?
If transcripts are not up for 2022 does that necessarily mean I will not get my return in the next week or 2?
As of date still 2/13/23 … don’t think I was resequenced.. so transcript should update Friday/Saturday .. it didn’t push out a week to 2/20/23 which usually means you were resequenced
Antone having trouble checking their refund? It was “Processing” yesterday but now they can’t find my return.
Is the system down?
@Alienmoon: You may not have finished processing yet to place the credit codes. There are quite a few that are in a similar situation.
@Walter DOG: oh ok, I thought it will do that thanks.
@LWBOSS: because you tax return is frozen a until the 15th then that 2/13 will push out for your refund
I didn’t get path message instead got your refund it still being processed. Still have bars, and TT152. What’s this mean?
I am on path like every other year
@KDinAZz: I wouldn’t listent to freetax! IRS had accepted my daughter’s return in under a minute. Mine was accepted just as quickly and so was my fiance’s – fastest ever actually. They’re not processed yet of course, but they got accepted very fast.
@Walter DOG: hey I have that same question 😆 my transcript says processing date of Feb 13th and Im on path message on wmr. I have code 150 766 and 768. If they won’t release refunds till the 15th why I have a processing date of Feb 13th instead?
@SandraA: I’m in the exact situation even filed and accepted 01/24, same as you, TT and on 01/31 my WMR changed to still processing refund amount disappeared all the same as you with online transcript. I’m a PATHER.
@ValtNC: the issue I’m having with freetaxusa is I filed yesterday at 12:16pm az time yesterday it is now 9:58am today and still not accepted..freetaxusa support said the IRS is accepting returns abnormally slow however I see others using different sites accepted quickly…seems others have had a wait with freetaxusa as well