For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,270 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Reddds

    @Amy19: thank you

    Reply
  2. Interesting..
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-11
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-20
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230405
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-27
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Akasha: when that happened to me last year, I had been resequenced. There has been people who just updated later than others though.

    Reply
  3. Interesting..
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-11
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-20
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-17
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230405
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-27
    • I Got My Refund!

    Checked my Va state and already have a deposit date 🥳 I filed on 01/27

    Reply
    2
  4. Amy19
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Reddds: You need to look at the bottom left one, it is the account transcript.

    Reply
  5. Tigerlili_1
    • Tax Preparer:
      Jackson Hewitt
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-25
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      PenFed
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-25
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-22
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-26
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-26
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @TeeDee44: It could be an accounting error. Have you tried calling them?

    Reply
  6. Georgiagurl44

    @John G: me my fed was accepted by IRS 1/19 still not approved state still pending.

    Reply
    1
  7. John G

    @Georgiagurl44: yes me as well

    Reply
    1
  8. John G

    Is anyone still stuck on return received and it hasn’t gone to return approved?

    Reply
    6
  9. Georgiagurl44

    Has anyone else been accepted on 1/19 and still showing one bar?

    Reply
    6
  10. Looking for answers

    @Mickie: it’s fine but I would definitely go later and do an amended return cause the standard deduction for single is smaller than head of household.

    Reply
  11. TeeDee44

    Hello everyone. I have a question. I worked at a job last year for 4 months. That’s 16 weeks, right? We’ll anyway this job paid me $1000 a week. I just received my 1099 from them. Why are these people saying I made $3700? Is there any legal recourse I can take because to thats bull.

    Reply
    1
  12. Reddds

    So my transcripts have 4 different boxes, which one should I be looking at for information. Only one box out of the 4 has 2022, the others have NA. Thanks

    Reply
  13. Amy19
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: My transcripts are still NA. I hope they update today. Any pattern emerging on how long it is averaging between acceptance and being able to see your transcripts for dailies? Have a good day answering questions!

    Reply
    1
  14. Akasha

    Still processing and transcripts still say N/A…WMR updated to this 5 days after filing.
    My brain wants to think there is something wrong with my return but then again wouldn’t my transcripts be available with a code if there was something wrong?

    Kind of makes me think I was resequenced. Idk

    Reply
    2
  15. Shaw766

    Transcript has N/A by it so I can’t view it 🙄

    Reply
    2
  16. Curious Fella

    @Jenny: Thank you friend!!

    Reply
    1
  17. Benita
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-4
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Chase
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-4
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-19
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    This year I don’t have ACTC nor EIC, I do have Educational Tax Credit and Child tax credit. I filed on 1/29/23 and was accepted the same day. I do have an offset from NY State, overall I’m hoping to update tomorrow with a DDD of 2/08/23.

    Reply
  18. dgc77

    so hardly anyone updated with a date so far today? i understand path, but even basic ones seem slim.

    Reply
    5
  19. Faira0416
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Capital One
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-22
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230504
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    Woohoo I’m a daily now! I’ve been a weekly since 2011 😁

    Just waiting for the 15th to pass by now.

    Reply
    6
  20. BigHen73
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-5
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Lincoln Savings (Cash App)
    • Bars:
      3rd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-3
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-7
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    Just checked wmr and it updated for me to 3 bars. DD came 2 days early on my Cash App on 1/30. Good luck everybody!!!

    Reply
    5
  21. Kayden
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-25
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      MetaBank
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @AngieInMichigan: I received my deposit on cashapp one day early

    Reply
    5
  22. Ty83

    @Gators352: Thank you Gators me too :) but that’s wishful Thinking when walking the path lol

    Reply
  23. Gators352

    @Destdabest: most likely

    Reply
  24. Gators352

    @melwalkshere: good for you all is well baby first steps then off and running with your refund

    Reply
  25. Gators352

    @Ty83: you’re fine I’m hoping for the best for you just hope you’ll update sooner then later

    Reply
  26. Mrsmama16

    @younghutch2022

    Seeing the same thing here. Filed on 1/26 and accepted the same day. Was showing 1 month now, unable to find it…

    Reply
  27. Jenny
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-16
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit union
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      0405
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-14
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Curious Fella: you’re right you have to wait til mid Feb this has been law for a few years already.

    Reply
  28. Ty83

    @Gators352: so basically I use my chime card because I get paid every 2 weeks on a Thursday.. but I have like $750 go on my chime which I get 2 days before payday so Tuesday night I get some money lmao and the rest on Thurs the actual payday 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ times are hard 😂 Eggs are Dammm near $10 in Jersey

    Reply
    6
  29. Ty83

    @Gators352: I know he was Happy!! I need this Refund like yesterday 😂😂 but im waiting for the IRS to Lift on the 15th.. 🤦🏾‍♀️ filed on the 12th accepted on the 19th .. as of Date February 13th 2023 I just wish I knew or had idea when I’m getting it … last year I received my Refund February 24th lol hope it’s before that because I’m using chime…

    Ok Gators I’m talking too much lol sorry..

    Reply
    2
  30. Destdabest

    I feel like those of us that can see trans filled out and have the patch is just waiting for that 846! I predict we will update on trans Friday the 17th with the 846 wmr gone update on that Saturday the 18th for a ddd on the 23rd!

    Reply
    7
  31. Destdabest

    @Mickie: it’s perfectly fine to file single. I claimed 2 kids with H&R Block and filed single this year and the year before last.

    Reply
    2
  32. Mickie

    So can you file single with 2 dependents?? Hr block made a mistake and put single instead of hoh will my stuff be held up for that

    Reply
    2
  33. Amanda
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Walmart One
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      03
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-12
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Proffiteer: same

    Reply
  34. melwalkshere
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-1
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Local Credit Union
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-1
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Gators352: it just popped in! Accepted! And NOW the wait begins :)

    Reply
  35. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: can you be resequencs without as of date and trans just NA

    Reply
    1
  36. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: thanks Sheila one more question if there was an issue with a prior year income or something that come up wouldn’t there be a code on that years transcripts or not

    Reply
    3
  37. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Walt DOG: A few years ago Jemar tried to find a difference but was unable to pin down a pattern. I’ve seen it go either way. For most, I think its resequencing but there are a few that have had issues like identity verify.

    Reply
    1
  38. Kimikaze

    @Steph336: Hi Steph! 👋

    Reply
  39. Curious Fella

    So this has probably been said and asked but EIC folks have to wait till mid February to get our returns? Is that the thing this year? According to the irs website

    Reply
    1
  40. Gators352

    @Ty83: he received the entire check that morning 😀

    Reply