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
49,357 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. Denise N.

    @LostNthesauce: right I’m filing February 15th from now on

    Reply
    2
  2. 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!
  3. 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!

    @Pac12389: The 151 is a possible adjustment to the refund, possibly an offset. The 806 is the money you paid in on the withholdings from your W2 and the 766 is a credit, could be additional child tax credit, education credit, etc. The 810 is a hold code freezing part or all of your refund.

    Reply
  4. kancme1

    I verified on 3/14, filed on 2/2 -_-
    the verification message still shows up on my WMR
    no updates to transcripts – still not showing I filed

    been filing the same info the same address – no changes at all
    they doing wtf they want this year y’all

    Reply
    1
  5. Red Dawn
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-21
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Credit union
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29

    @Starr: awww thanks love! I appreciate you checking on me 🥹💖

    Reply
  6. Pac12389

    Hello whT do the code 806 810 766 151 mean on my transcript

    Reply
  7. LostNthesauce

    @Eculabutan5923: hey 1/29 twin!!! I think it’s safe to say “we’ll never file a tax return in January” and that is a FACT!!! I verified last Friday and now I’m praying for a mass update Friday especially now since it seems to be a lot of unprocessed 1/29ners on the scene

    Reply
    5
  8. LostNthesauce

    @Kris123: I understand what you’re saying! And I’ve been a weekly for years, I use to get my ddd for a Thursday and now I sometimes get a Wednesday ddd smh lol

    Reply
  9. Jennyb

    Will there be updates tonight?

    Reply
  10. Eculabutan5923

    Verified last week still no update hopefully I update this week with something. Filled 1/29 accepted same day had to verify ever since I moved so apparently it delayed me getting letter got it finally last week so just a waiting game verified on phone she said I should be good to go and have to wait the 9 weeks

    Reply
    2
  11. Kris123

    @LostNthesauce: Also if under your transcripts it shows any previous year, click it, and they should show the control code. If it ends in 05 I believe your a weekly. Its rare but sometimes you can change from weekly to daily but i just checked mine the same way and it ended in 05

    Reply
  12. Kris123

    @LostNthesauce: yeah I unfortunately had to do both I had to wait for a letter and still have no return filed. I wasn’t saying everyone had to verify just eliminating possibilities

    Reply
  13. Kris123

    sorry for the accidental dup comment

    Reply
  14. Kris123

    @Mari: yeah that’s how mine is as well. im sure the next mass transcript update or so alot of ours should be filled in and updated

    Reply
  15. Kris123

    @Mari: yeah that’s how mine is as well. im sure the next mass transcript update or so alot of ours should be filled in and updated

    Reply
  16. Starr

    @Red Dawn: I’m still here . Fingers crossed for you this week 🍀🍀🍀🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

    Reply
    1
  17. LostNthesauce

    @Kris123: no mine does not say that but again each account is setup differently for instance, someone informed me that I could go to my transcripts to get the control code well idk if I’m a weekly or what but my transcripts never had that information just old address and no return on file! I’ve noticed some people have a little access while others had to wait for a letter! Even though I have the preference for email only smh

    Reply
  18. Mari

    @Kris123: no. I can’t even select 2023 transcript it’s not an option just prior years

    Reply
  19. Kris123

    @Mari: yeah there’s a TON of us others with transcripts showing the same thing I filed 01/29 and still shows no update I do believe there will be a mass update for transcripts this Friday night Sat AM. By any chance when you are on your irs account does it say “we need more information to process your return”?

    Reply
    2
  20. Mari

    @LostNthesauce: thank you I finally got there and 2023 was not an option. Home Screen said return has not been processed

    Reply
    1
  21. Mari

    I finally was able to get on my its account. I f/a Feb 5th. When I look for the transcript 2023 is not an option. Home Screen just says it hasn’t been processed. I’m so confused.

    Reply
  22. WildCardTaxYear

    Just adding this update for the CP05 group from 3/11, eeearly filer, h&R Block got 570, 971, CP05 notice, was already verified, nothing sent in, have not contacted the IRS, updated to 571 dated 4/8, just waiting HOOOOPPIING for that 846 sometimes soon🤞🤞🤞🤞what a year y’allđź’Żđź’Żđź’Ż

    Reply
    2
  23. Been broke

    Filed 1/28. Verified by phone 3/11. Code 570& 971 . Dates processed says 4/1
    On transcript.

    Reply
  24. Shelleybeansss

    @Bluyy: oof 120?! Ouch. My 570 had a 4464c letter that said up to 60 days. This year has been the biggest dumpster fire

    Reply
    1
  25. Bluyy

    I file on Jan 25 and only update I got was 570 code and now I have to wait until 120 days for another update.

    Reply
    1
  26. Jennyb

    @Kris123: no and sometimes even when transcripts update it may be delayed

    Reply
    1
  27. Mari

    @LostNthesauce: thank you. I’ll try that

    Reply
    1
  28. LostNthesauce

    @Mari: you’ll login to your account then scroll to the bottom and you’ll see records: click on view tax records which will take you to your tax records: once there scroll to the bottom where it says “get transcripts online” click get transcripts which should open another tab to show your current and prior years!

    Reply
    1
  29. Kris123

    Does where’s my refund ever update anything before transcripts?

    Reply
  30. Tab

    Hey

    Reply
    1
  31. Mari

    Please help me. I finally got my IdMe working But I need help navigating it. When I finally logged in I can’t find the page that shows my activity with the dates and everything. What am I doing wrong.

    Reply
  32. Shelleybeansss

    @Red: I don’t even know what the dates mean at this point. I’m really starting to think they’re arbitrary if there’s any review. My processing is 3/4 and my as of is 4/1. Accepted 1/22. 570 0.00 since early feb. 4464c letter mid feb. Nothing else since. All 4 transcripts are showing/filled

    Reply
  33. LostNthesauce

    @TristieLou!: No it didn’t! I think if wmr is stuck and or transcripts, someone would need to put our return back into processing to reflect latest message! I’m a weekly so I think it’s safe to say my wmr won’t change until they start processing the returns for ID verify! When I verified the notification to verify went away but it still says “your 23’ tax return is not processed”. Once they do that I believe it goes from “your tax return is STILL being processed” vs. “your tax return is being processed”

    Reply
    1
  34. Adkins,TX

    @Curious: i thought about amending but when i was done with it, it asked me to pay back the difference of my original tax refund versus my new one. I never even got the first, so i am letting the IRS during their 60 day review make adjustments

    Reply
  35. TristieLou!

    @LostNthesauce: Did your WMR ever say “Action Required”? I finally got my first letter in the mail yesterday. I verified online, but it still says Action required, and when I go in to verify identity it says that it can’t be done online.

    Reply
    1
  36. Red Dawn
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-21
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Credit union
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29

    No updates here…

    Reply
    1
  37. meow
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-18
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar

    @garry: let us know if you get it

    Reply
  38. Jacky_FL
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-21
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Discover Bank
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-21
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      02
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-31
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Admin: How can I erase
    “I got my refund!” in my profile? It doesn’t have the ✔️ but it appears anyways.
    I’m still waiting on my refund.
    THANK YOU MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO!!!

    Reply
    1
  39. Harry a

    @Red: It means you’re screwed like the rest of us i have a processed date of 3/11 no notices , still nothing

    Reply
    1
  40. Red

    I have cycle 05 with an 570 code. This has been this way since 02/15/2024, however when looking on my transcript it states processing date 03/25/2024. This date has gone and passed. I have not had an update on my transcript since 02/15/2024. what does this mean?

    Reply
    1