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
49,353 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. 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!

    @Juicyroot: Good morning. I have am “assuming” I am daily because I get a 5 every other year, I “assume” that because weekly’s get a 5 year after year. How many years have you had the 5? I’d ask @Sheila_33, but I do not think it switches each year from daily to weekly, I think it is one or the other. I hope either way, you get your 846 soon!

    Reply
  2. 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: mine hasn’t tried could they still update today with being NA no movement at all

    Reply
  3. Mike
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-21
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Citizens bank
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-23
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-3
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-8
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-13
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    I don’t understand why the return is all filled out all the numbers my return summary is for this can’t release codes or populated the account transcript what’s taking so long

    Reply
    1
  4. 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!

    @Walter DOG: It no movement today, possible another week of resequencing, but I’m holding out for today. I used to always update at a certain time, but in the last few years, it could be any time from 2 am to 12 noon. And as many returns that are having to be processed, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you all.

    Reply
    1
  5. Ohio Girl
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Prepaid card
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Walter DOG: filed 1/6 accepted 1/17
    Very strange indeed we’ve never had to id verify

    Reply
  6. Shelby082

    Did any weekly get a DD ?

    Reply
  7. HartFSU83

    @Benita: mine did this last year and this year as well. It updated later in the day last year. Hopefully it happens like that again. Knock on wood I have never had an issue with a return.

    Reply
  8. 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: mine has always updated around 3am if still no movement today what you think maby going on

    Reply
  9. littles16
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      credit union

    @littles16: BLANK^**

    Reply
  10. 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!

    @Ohio Girl: when did you file and get accepted,on the face book page there’s several with the same as you and they had verify your 2022 tax return and was prompt to enter code then couple days later they didn’t have id verify one called irs and was told no letters or id verify weird for sure

    Reply
  11. littles16
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      credit union

    checked transcripts—- they are all showing except my return is still black! atp I’m praying for everyone

    Reply
  12. 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!

    @Ohio Girl: Have you went in and checked id verify to see if you could verify? I’m sorry you haven’t had any movement yet.

    Reply
  13. SandraA
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-5
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Credit Union
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-5
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-14
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-20
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250705
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good morning… As of 630a – 2022 Wage Transcript – “Blank”, “2022” Return Transcript – Return Populated (Not Blank). 2022 Account Transcript and 2022 Record of Account Transcript still N/A. On Tax Record portal page online 2022 Return $Amount listed, however on initial page states “2022 Your Return Not Processed”… Weird, could still be processing?????

    Reply
    2
  14. 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!

    @Selvy: The 806 is your w2’s and the 766 is a credit code. Could be an education credit, ctc, or the additional child tax credit, etc.

    Reply
  15. Ohio Girl
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-6
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Prepaid card
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • I Got My Refund!

    So far no update for me.
    Account transcript has 2022 but it has zeros and s of date of 2/13/2023
    Wmr still has no bars and still processing message all on the left still there
    No letter from irs

    Reply
  16. 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!

    @Amy19: Good morning, hun. I’m not sure what is going on, but I’m hoping there are a lot more updates.

    Reply
    1
  17. 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!

    @Tom Felton.: Later today.

    Reply
  18. 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: mine have always updated around 3am do they still update on into today if not what you think is going on like I said my WMR changed last Friday morning

    Reply
  19. 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!

    @Sheila_33: Gm..
    Have you ever seen the return update and not the others ?

    Reply
  20. Tom Felton.

    @Sheila_33: like later on today or check tomorrow?

    Reply
  21. 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!

    Anyone accepted on 1/28? NA or filled out? Thanks

    Reply
  22. Juicyroot

    @Amy19: with cycle code 05 how do you know that your daily and not weekly?
    I’m 05 as well last yr I was a daily updated this morning with 05 cycle code. Bot sure if I’m still daily or went back to weekly. So just curious how you know which one you are.

    Reply
  23. 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!

    @VaGal07: When did you file? Accepted? Congrats on the having some positive movement.

    Reply
  24. Selvy

    Good morning can anyone tell me what codes 806/766 mean please and thanks

    Reply
  25. 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!

    @Tom Felton.: Give it time, they may still be finishing up.

    Reply
  26. 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: Good morning. I just checked mine, NA still. I am trying not to panic but as you know, it is hard not to! I was accepted 1/28 and am a daily, hopefully I see some sign later today. This is frustrating because it reminds me of the “2020 glitch of no man’s land” for months. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
  27. Tom Felton.

    Ok. I finally have all 4 transcripts but there are no codes. It shows my return and that I am negative the correct amount per my return but under my record of account is under transaction is says no return filed but below it shows the details of my return. What does this mean?

    Wmr still at 1 bar with topic 152. “It is being processed”

    Reply
  28. 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!

    @Walter DOG: I’ve been watching for you. :) Too early to worry yet. Let’s see if they are still going to update.

    Reply
  29. 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!

    This link explains the cycle codes and their meanings:
    https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-cycle-code/

    Reply
  30. 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: I don’t get this at all I’m starting to worry still NA nothing never had this happen

    Reply
  31. 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!

    @Jjay22: It’s possible. Hard to say which one will need to be processed first.

    Reply
  32. Akt

    Update for today. All transcripts are there now just not a refund code. It looks like they are still working on it.

    Reply
    1
  33. 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!

    @Russ H: No, that’s the date you processed and posted to the master file, your cycle code. Yesterday. 05 IRS week, 05 day of the week.

    Reply
  34. Azluckyfish

    All my transcripts are completed except account will that finish today or another week my as of date still Feb 13

    Reply
    2
  35. Russ H

    My return transcript filled in but not account.

    Reply
  36. VaGal07

    @Mike: I’m sure they will completely fill in over the next couple of hours. I’ll keep you updated!

    Reply
    1
  37. Russ H

    Is 05052023 this Wednesday.

    Reply
  38. Jjay22

    @Sheila_33: i filed my 2021 this year along with my 2022 and it still only has one bar, I’m guessing they waiting to do the 2022 first??

    Reply
  39. AnxiousVA

    Anyone here have still processing and your transcripts are updating today?

    Reply
    1