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.
Hope someone chuckled at my silliness…. I’LL be around!! Have a great night all!
@Boogerbaby089: wishful thinking.. haha I did just reply to myself😉 I have to have hard evidence I’m going crazy waiting for the IRS to pay me what I overpaid….
GOOOD evening beautiful ppl 💕 I really hope this is week we start to see movement for a lot of us!! 🤞🏼 Randomly updating throughout the week would be AMAAZZZZINGGG🎵🎶
@Mandie: I got 1st notice on Mar 4th requiring 60 days and just got new today. A 2645C stating they need additional 60 days to complete a response on what action we are taking on your account.
Second letter said they need an ADDITIONAL 60 days. It was dated 3/28, said the same bull as the first letter. So I’m basically waiting until almost June. Not only that TT is asking for their fee by the middle of the month.
Whelp they just turned my lights off!!! Thank you irs
To anyone who got a second letter, about how long between the first and second was it? I got my first notice on 3/4 and I see something from the IRS in the mail today so I’m wondering if it’s my second notice. Nothing has changed on transcripts or my irs account in general since the end of February.
Ok. I have been waiting since 2/14 for an ID verification letter. A new letter was mailed out on the 1st of March and I never received it. I was told that after 30 days to call and make a walk-in appointment. I just hung up with the rep and was told that a new letter for a review will be sent out and to scratch the 30-day letter info I was told but that I need to now wait for 180 days from the date of this call ( 4/10 to receive any of the letters one that has not even been issued yet and the one that never came as well. Also, she could not mail out either of the letters… I just got done amending my return. She said nothing wrong but Just to wait. So this is a waiting game of stalling.
I have the list for every government official in the US TREASURY DEPARTMENT if anybody wants a specific office number let me know.. I should’ve gave these numbers out when the IRS started causing hardships.. and yeah that’s my real name cause I want them to know why people are calling them ..
@Harry a: I’m fixing to be homeless and my electricity is gonna get cut off today, and I’ve called the IRS and TAS numerous times like 40 times explaining that I’m a single father raising my kids by myself, and I’m in treatment 4 days a week for 4 hrs a day. And they just flat out ignore me
Call them and tell them how they failed you like they failed me and many other Americans this year.. it’s sad that we are struggling because a poor plan that they can’t execute in a timely manner.. there 6 weeks behind normal.. that’s a violation of taxpayer rights .. I’m not scared of them I’m tired of this BS..
@Michaelclark: I hear you im on soc sec, no money ,wife trying to get disability needs 2 knees and a shoulder and arthritis and i have daughter in college, tires bald taxes over due we are all in the same boat hang in there
@Shelleybeansss: I think the issue is that this many people should NOT be having to wait “until the time has passed according to any notice you’ve received” because the notices shouldn’t have ever been sent out. They are stall tactics because the IRS is too far behind and their system sucks and screwed early filers over. They had a plan and it failed. Other people are suffering and being blamed for (with these notices) and being made to suffer the consequences of the choices made by whoever is in charge. They need to release all the refunds, put them through the system, and move TF on. People being evicted and hungry and lights shut off bc the government thought they had a good plan.
@Shelleybeansss: idk it seems like they change the rules whenever they choose to…
@Shelleybeansss: sry I was giving people a way to reach out and express there disappointments this year with the head of the IRS and the head of TAS.. that’s there real office numbers.. I have reached out as a American and a single father raising kids by myself , and I’m facing eviction and my electricity is getting cut off tmw.. so yeah I kinda hope people blow there line up, I asked for help plenty of times and they dont help or care….
Never said they would help, I put there numbers there so collectively people could share how disappointed they are this year with the IRS and TAS … Ive already left messages telling them they have done a shit job this year and that people have been experiencing hardships that are painful and they should try to get a better game plan so Americans don’t have to go thru another year like this one…
@Confused2:
File and approved 2/08
ID verify on 3/14 after receiving the letter via USPS, all that time my transcripts shows n/a
3/30 My account shows the balance I owned to the IRS fully paid, full transcripts and a DD 04/03 for the rest of my refund.
Has anyone gotten Letter 4464C after resolving the ID verification letter two weeks prior? If so, have you gotten your refund yet? How long did it take to review your return? I have never had any issues before this year now all of a sudden I am.
@Michaelclark: not helpful
@Michaelclark: I don’t think they can help until the time has passed according to any notice you’ve received. That’s what we were told when I worked at the IRS call center
1/29 filed no movement no letters until 3/29 updated with as of 4/15 and 810 freeze code. Can anyone please give me hope that has been in same situation that has received a ddd or updated code?
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF TAX ADMINISTRATION RUSSEL GEORGE OFFICE NUMBER 202-622-6500.. report the IRS for this bullcrap they pulling with American tax refunds… And be sure to tell them I said hi…
202-317-6100 NATIONAL TAXPAYER ADVOCATE MS. ERIN COLLINS PHONE NUMBER,, Give her office a call and tell them how the advocates was so unhelpful….
These are real o
Direct numbers to these government officials , quit being afraid and let’s tell them we sick of the crap they putting us through!
202-317-7070 IRS COMMISSIONER OFFICE NUMBER,, Stay on hold to leave his office a message , tell them how holding your refund has affected your family.. please let’s end this IRS rights violation
together ..
202-317-7070 IRS COMMISSIONER OFFICE NUMBER,, Stay on hold to leave his office a message , tell them how holding your refund has affected your family..
@YaraB2346: that’s weird. I wonder myself why so far out. I filed the 20th no update for me yet.
@Shelleybeansss: ugh that’s frustrating 😭 thank you for the info
I hope they finalize us January filers now! 🐰
I filed 03/26 accepted same day, today WMR says accepted with DD of May 3rd. Does anyone know why my DD is so far away?
@Harry a: Your right just checked its back to the same bs
@Shelleybeansss: mine never changed just today first time it said 0.00 owed since feb.
@Shelleybeansss: ok thnx
@Red Dawn: mine always showed 0.00
@Red Dawn: it happens every Sunday morning by around 9 it changes back
@Harry a: it does that every Sunday morning. It reverts back to the normal status around 9am EST. I thought the same back in feb when I saw it the first time. But it’s due to Sunday morning maintenance
Hello Happy Easter the only change on my transcript this morning first page now says acct balance owed 0.00 only change in a month so maybe it’s happening
My account balance still says $0.00! Is this a good sign??
After a month of verification, my balance shows up and as of date says April 15th. Will my refund date show up next hopefully?
How long does the $0.00 balance stay when it’s updating? Right now mine keeps saying I owe $0.00.
@Mandie: same I filled 1/11 accepted 1/19 . I’m beyond blew. My cp05 is up May 4th. But if you call in they keep saying 120 days. This bs
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