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 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.
That’s 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 don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s 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.
GM, this exactly what my wmr is saying my transcripts still have all zeros and am usually a weekly update this morning wmr says the following:We received your tax return and are reviewing it. If we need additional information, we’ll mail a notice with further instructions.
If you’ve already received a notice, please follow the instructions.
If we determine no additional information is needed, we’ll continue to process your refund.
Does anyone know what these means should I id verify my IRS account does not show a notice as of yet.
Good morning, everyone. I hope that all is well with you all. I was just wondering if you have all good codes on your transcript for 2 weeks as there any way you can receive a bad code on Friday. the last 2 Fridays have been good codes but i remember the 570 nightmare. Last year I received my refund in July. it was horrible. I kept getting letters. i had to go through my congress with the help of Sheila she helped me. Do anyone know if it’s still possible to get bad codes.
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: Thank you for the answer! None of that for me, not yet anyway…
GM went into wmr now it says action maybe needed . They may need more information if they do they will send a letter . Does this mean I have to ID verify
@Lisha: If nothing changes in the next few days, you may want want to contact the software company.
I filed the 27th of January, anyone else still waiting for the stupid approval line to fill?
@WorriedTX: I don’t think we’ll see any updates until overnight tonight into tomorrow morning.
Morning folks!!! Any changes or updates?
@Sheila_33: I did, it just still shows pending.
@Lisha.: Go into your tax software and make sure it hasn’t been accepted. Sometimes the Wmr is slow to update on acceptances.
@Jaina: When I had to last year I saw no movement on my transcripts and my WMR update with a take action notice to verify my identity. I caught it on opening day and was able to make an appointment with my local tax office and verify in person. I think now they are telling people to wait on the letter. It will also show in your IRS account that you need to ID verify and it will show that a notice is being sent to you.
How will I know I need to ID verify? A notification on the IRS site? On WMR? Only by the letter arriving in the mail?
What time does IRS processing resume tonight after midnight or when they open in the morning Eastern Time ??
@HyuneeBee🐝: okay thank you. I was worried as I don’t remember that ever happening
I checked the IRS website and signed in. It says my return hasn’t processed but when I click status, it shows received. I filed on Feb 3rd. Any idea why it hasn’t updated?
@ky606gurl: Hello! My 2024 was zero as well and now the zeros are gone and it says “info”. When I click on that “info” link, it states that my information is not available. Maybe it’s a part of the system updating?
@Tamika J.: It’s a very easy process. I went in person last year and ID verified without the letter but I think they are making people wait on the letter. They just asked me some questions about my prior year tax return and then my return went back into processing.
I just checked my transcript and noticed that ALL of my as of dates were 3-3-2025 ALL lol including 2023-2022-2021. Different processing dates but every transcript from 2021 up has an as of Date of 2025. Does any know why? Is that like a deadline or something?
And my processing date is 2-24 this year(all good codes).
The last few years the 864 came before the processing date(except 2022 which was 1 day after) and was deposited 2-10 days before the ddd (Chime and Sofi).
Just wanted to share mine and possibly find out why all of the transcripts have a 3-3 2025 as of date lol it didn’t make sense
@Tamika J.: how did you find out? I’m so nervous I will miss the notice.
I’ve heard it’s only a short extra wait. I hope so for you.
@Sheila_33 Good Morning Sheila, I hope all is well. Can you possibly give any insight on why a tax return has not been accepted after a week…have you ever seen it take this long, is there anything I should do on my end?
I just found out I will be getting a letter to ID verify. Ive never had to do this until this year. Anyone familiar on the process and how long it takes?
@Monee: I would look for an update on your transcripts Friday morning. I had to ID verify last year and what we noticed was that if you ID verified by Tuesday then you would get moved back into processing that week. I verified on a Tuesday last year and had an update by that Friday. So since you verified Wednesday of last week you should see transcripts populate this week. It says that it could take up to 9 weeks but I don’t think any of them took that long last year. The longest part was people having to wait on the letter to come in the mail.
@WheredacahAtt: did they tell you what they need?