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.
@Red Dawn: I think it will happen soon. Mine updated on Saturday. Direct deposit 4-11-24
@GotaHeadache: No Idea. I am in the same boat. I was going to file the amendment but righ before I would have filed it, it was asking me how do I want to pay the refund difference. I was taken back as I didnt get any refund as of yet. So I stopped and will let the IRS adjust or tell me how they want to proceed on it. I know where my issue is, it was from a $1200 401k distro from my old job
My as of went from 2/12 to 4/22 , once my amendment was acknowledged it went to 4/29. I wonder if they were going to fix the problem themselves and I should’ve waited to amend? 2 numbers on my original return were messed up, I’m still due a refund just not as much . Will they still process my original return first? And then adjust? My payment plan starts end of May and I don’t want to have to pay it I just want them to take it out my refund.
@USF physics ROB: Taxes aren’t racist, they’re illegal. But unless everyone bands together, nothing will change.
day 66 same bs
@TisTheSeasonOfTorture: If I was in your situation, I would either try to wait it out for a couple of more weeks or I would fax a 911 TAS request form in to my local office and see if they could at least look into the status. Sometimes, a TAS rep can just look into the case without taking it on and see if you’re getting ready to finish up. After a certain amount of time, you don’t have to have a hardship to request an advocate look at it.
I think my nightmare is over. Just checked transcripts and there it was.
571 – Resolved additional account action – 4/29/2024
846 Refund Issued – 4/11/2024
Filed and accepted on 1/19
570 -2/26
971 – 3/4
571 – 4/29
846 – 4/11
@Sheila_33: thank you for that info. To hear them tell it it’s being processed. Do I need to call them and say something or is there even anything I can do? For it to just be sitting there is stupid especially after I rushed to send them the info they needed to process.
@LostNthesauce: I think it’s a positive. Fingers crossed 🤞
@Not in a rush but kinda: 1099s can take until October to be updated sometimes but w2s have to be sent in to SSA before the end of March otherwise the employer is fined.
@TisTheSeasonOfTorture: Since the date is stuck, then your return is just sitting until it’s reviewed and manually put back into processing. Once the date starts moving out again, and if no other issues pop up, you could possibly see a refund date.🙂
@Mari: Check the account balance at the top of the codes. If it’s not 0s and it is a negative number, then it’s possible you’re owed the balance.
Still no updates here 😭
While checking my transcript (still no movement f/a 2/5) I looked at last years 2022 and saw a 766 code with a significant dollar amount added after I received my refund does that mean the IRS owes me money from last year.
@Sdiego: yayyyyy !!! Finally!! Congratulations 🎉🎊 it’s been a long time coming.
@Sdiego: was your 570 before 768 on your transcript