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.
@Sly39: yeah transcripts been stuck on 2/19/24 and I was told a 5071c letter was mailed on the 22nd of February! My situation is just a ID verify I don’t know nothing about a review
@NotInARush-ButKinda: def not filing before feb again
@Denise N: I said call in not Lynn this damn iPhone
If you are still seeing NA with no updates, call Lynn and ask did everything go through successfully with your ID verification and then you will find out the truth
I rush home by 6:30 call up. They keep me on the phone for 45 minutes then hang up on me so in the morning I will be calling in so I can verify everything and they said once everything is verified that my refund will be released.
Hey everybody, it’s good to call and talk to more than one person. The first person said all I had to do was verify and I would be good. Well after I verify it appeared to be that I had a successful verification. Come to find out it really wasn’t and I’m waiting for another letter saying that they couldn’t complete the verification and needed more information and then I found out that, I had a W-2 for a job. I didn’t even work last year for $5.36 that they had on file
@Red Dawn:
I called the main IRS phone number and told them I was experiencing a hardship. I believe I gave them my info or transferred me to the advocate line, I gave them all my info. They suggested I call my Congressman to get an advocate faster. I filled out the paperwork and my TA reached out to me within 2 weeks.
So according to the tax agent, 45% of all returns sent in before Feb 18, were held with a 570.
@Rainy14: how do you get a tax advocate?
Hey everyone! What would you do?
I got a tax advocate to help me get my refund. I sent them my necessary documents in order to process and get my refund released to me. I got my ID verify letter in the mail today. Would it be smart to verify online or just leave it?
@ShantayG: I verified on Feb 29 and I definitely should update this week if not I’m calling nonstop on Monday and every day until I get my refund.
@Sly39: I understand what the code is. But considering in my 30 years of filing taxes I’ve never had an issue with anything, and now realizing I missed two w2s, I’m assuming that’s my particular issue, added onto the 1099. I was told all self employment is getting reviewed this year
I filled January 31st got approved and everything after 21days I keep checking WMR keeps saying Accepted and today March 13 I try to check from ID.Me and it shows suspended what dose this mean
And I checked back to where’s my refund keep showing Accepted please do i need to do anything about this
I wonder if it really takes 60 days to review your taxes?
@Sdiego: yep alot are in reviews this year …and nothing helps nothing can change it till they are done . My daughter also added anything review could be for on Feb 17 to the IRS portal and still not anything so till they are done nobody can do anything about it and it’s alot like alot in reviews
@Sheila_33: my daughter uploaded everything the review could be for on IRS document page and still has a review and still as of Feb 26 date nothing has changed and she uploaded that Feb 17… Nothing is changing till then are done the reviews
@ShantayG: they told my daughter to verify she did nothing change then she got a letter wasn’t even to verify was a review ! People don’t understand a lot aren’t being asked to verify identity they are just assuming and calling..when its really reviews. People don’t realize 570 and 971 are general codes doesn’t mean it’s for anything specific but alot don’t need to verify alot are on a review
@LostNthesauce: not likely from what I’ve seen it’s in review or verify identity that’s holding them up ..you see transcript online ?
@Shelleybeansss: no my daughter’s both got 570 that’s just a code for additional account action pending nothing specific and they both have reviews. Neither has any new jobs or no W2 missing and if it’s in review nothing will help till it’s done not amended not uploading documents to their page so they can verify nothing helps till it’s done
@Jacky_FL: thanks so much and I sure will!
@Mellows mommy: 😳 omg
I was asking who’s the preparer
bc they could have taken, rerouted to a sbtpg prepaid card , leaving you with 800.
Let us know what you find out!
Good luck 🤞🏼
@Emarto1: me too exact same thing
@Jacky_FL: I’m owed CS. I’m not even getting that lol
I was asking if you filed single or not.
If you’re HOH with a dependent whose SS number has back child support tied to it, they take it from your refund
@LostNthesauce: I filed Jan 29. My as of date is Feb 19. My transcript are zero.
@Mellows mommy: who is your tax preparer, like Turbo Tax or HR Block?