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 āqueueā 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.
My 2022 return transcripts are available now! At first it was āN/Aā. Hope I process with all good codes now.
@Walter DOG: Iām in the same boat no update just n/a still on all three .
@Sheila_33: What would be the hold up? I mean it looks like everything is done, but my account transcript hasn’t updated. Everything else is showing.
@Ryan W: Wage may not update until later in the year. It’s possible you’re not finished yet, since the return has populated.
@Walter DOG: Hey Walter. I replied to you the other day because our tax situation was pretty similar filed and accepted the 19th thru freetaxusa and wmr says still being processed with 1 bar tax topic 152 and amount gone on the side. I checked my transcript and it was still NA except the bottom two but both said no tax return filed and as of date changed to 2/20. I just checked again just now and now it says 2022 on all 4 accounts but one of the transcripts still says NO return filed. Hoping things all fill in later. Just wanted to update you
@Azluckyfish: When the “as of” date pushes out, it means that the system has a reminder to finish something. Could be posting a refund code, making sure a direct deposit has been made if you have the 846 code, or resolving an issue.
Ok breakdown here. Filed 1/16, accepted 1/19 through TT. I’m a weekly. Last week, only my account transcript popped up, but no info on it. Today, they’re all there, you can see they’ve done my return, but my account transcript and wage & income transcript is still showing nothing. Any ideas?
@Walter DOG: I’ve seen 3 on the sister site that had n/a’s and have updated this morning, let’s hope your time is coming.
@Angela: Congrats on your transcripts filling in. Friday is day one, Thursday is 5.
I see people saying there as of date changing to Feb 20 what does that mean longer processing just curious mine is still Feb 13 so hopefully I finish today
@Honeybee82: everbody nearly says the same,return post,still waiting on accountNA.I remember it doing the same before,and account posted later in the afternoon sometime.
@Sheila_33: thank you Sheila your the best
Forgot to mention that on Return Transcript the following is listed on top “20230505” checked my 2021 account transcript and it has an as of date of “02/13/2023” for prior year’s Account Transcript (2021). Other than that will check later today to see if additional updates have occurred, fingers crossed.
My return transcript updated but the account transcript shows N/A still. Hopefully it updates later.
@Walter DOG: I was na at 5 AM and then everything started to fill in at 6 AM so hoping it continues throughout the day
@Walter DOG: I was in a at 5 AM and then everything started to fill in at 6 AM so hoping it continues throughout the day