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.
@Sheila_33: thanks Sheila He set up a irs account last week to view transcripts so I’m sure that’s what his letter is
@Gators352: Good Morning Hope your well
@Gators352: Hey Gator! :)
@chilax: oh ok, thanks, I’ll let you know also when mine does process.
@Interesting..: oh ok, that’s very good. As far as my federal, I been on path message since last Saturday and I have all good codes. Last year it took awhile for me to process but my federal processed in 5 days I was surprised. But state in 1 day that’s fast.
Well good morning. Hopefully everything moved along today for everyone. My transcripts are back available and blank still 2/13/23 as of date so hopefully transcripts update tomorrow for me like last year. Last year I wound up with a surprise DD one day before WMR issued a DDD 😂
@Faira0416: Good morning. Thanks for the info, it looks like you are sailing right along to your 846! Congrats
@LWBOSS: Mine hasn’t processed, but mine never processes early. As soon as mine does, I will let you know, but as of this morning, mine hasn’t. I wish mine would…..
@Mitty: wrong
Good morning to my OG’S @Sheila & Walter Dog also good morning to the feed family hope all is well did anybody update?
@LWBOSS: I was shocked mine processed so fast. I moved this past year and everything. I didn’t receive my state return last year until March smh along with my federal.
Walter DOG: You have n/a right. And you’ve been in the system since the the 19th right? N/a means the system hasn’t even tried to send you through. Your wmr is reflecting that. These 0s on the account transcript for some others, I think the system tried and couldn’t finish. Just like my daughters. You’re gonna read all kinds of stuff that may make you think the worst. But, try not to stress too much until we see what tomorrow brings. :)
@Mitty: I don’t have the 846 code and I’m a pather, so that’s unlikely 😕 but I have all the rest of the codes that are suppose to be there so fingers crossed for the 22nd. I use a TFI so I won’t see it early.
@NY-Khidd: I miss the snow sometimes but definitely not the cold. Brrr,,lol
@Faira0416: the good news is your transcript could appear for 2022 and then the very next day you could have a direct deposit. In other words, there’s no set time that your transcript needs to actually be up dated before you can get your deposit.