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.
@Tom Felton: It’s the “as of” date. It is placed to remind the system to process the return by that date. If it adjusts and pushes out, then the system has given itself more time to get it processed.
@Mike: me too
@Maisha: did you have any codes? I’m not seeing any one mind
@Tigerlili_1: Yeah, I’m hoping more will be filled out today and there will be an WMR update.
@KYMama22: mine is exactly the same, everything else updated except account transcript still showing 2/13
@Walter DOG: All I could find was n/a’s for transcripts in the similarity. Not sure what their Wmr status was.
What does as of feb 13 mean on my transcripts?
@Proffiteer: Do you have the 846 refund code with a date beside it? If so, the date beside it is your direct deposit date. Or do you have the path credits and are under the hold until it lifts the 15th? The cycle code is when you processed. 05 week of the IRS tax year, and 05 day which was yesterday.
Filed and accepted via TT on 1/24. Transcripts are all there and fully updated as of this morning and showing the negative amount – (refund amount) owed to me on the return transcript. Cycle date is 20230505… I think that means DDD of next Friday the 10th…. I think. Never was much good at remembering how those translate. Guess I’ll know for sure if WMR updates tomorrow.
It’s happening to a lot of us so I don’t think it’s for anyone reason but I just think they’re not done populating for the day someone earlier said this happened last year and they got their code later in the day so here’s open
@Newman: mines was similar, updated with 2022 return transcripts but account still say as of Feb 13th no codes. I believe it’ll be filled in by later tonight or early morning like 1-3am possibly. I’m going to check again later this evening
Has anyone fully updated this morning with full transcripts and codes? I’m beginning to think there is a problem with their system. 🥴
@Newman: I am showing all the same things it updated between 5 and 6 AM so I’m hoping I get more update later in the day
@Sheila_33: thanks Sheila never had this happen wondering if because I filed early or what those 3 on sister site did they have still processing on wmr or what I have bar refund date when available tax topic 152 amount gone
I have 2022 on all my transcripts now. As of date still 2/13. Cycle is 05. Accepted 1/19. WMR still one bar and “2022 Return Not Processed.”
@Patientlywaiting1987: mine says the same thing! same docs available, two with two N/A
@KYMama22: Same here everything changed at 6 AM this morning for me but still no return transcripts everything else updated though just waiting for codes