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.
@mike My RI state never got accepted or rejected. Just processing. I called and they dont have it. Smh
ALL 4 transcripts now show 2022 … all good codes earned income credit etc … as of date moved to 2/20/23 .. my full refund amount shows at the top with a minus sign meaning they owe me . Just waiting on that 846
@Tom Felton: Maybe the 6th I do the same with the fees taken out but it goes through SBTPG 1st so I get it Wednesday morning
I filed early accepted 1/17 and finally got my 846 with a ddd of 2-8. I used turbo with the fees taken out of my return and I have chime. Should I expect it on the 8th or a day or two after? Thanks for all the help everyone!
My instincts were right! Our 2022 transcripts just updated with the “as of date: FEB 20, 2023. Nothing else has populated yet. So, it’s slowly but surely moving along.
** doing my happy dance **
Anyone that was accepted 02/01 updated on transcripts yet?
@Mike: Yayy! So happy for you.
@Chosen: Yeah you go to irs.gov and you make an account You have to do that 1st before you can look at transcripts or anything else
@Faira0416: Yayy, so relieved. Thank you!
@Sheila_33: Every single year I’ve filed when my account transcripts update, they update with all the codes immediately. I’ve never had to wait.
@Sheila_33: what does this mean?
How are people able to see a specific date? I’m not understanding the term “transcripts” typically I just do check my refund on irs. Is there another resource I can utilize?
Thank you
@Sheila_33: Seriously that is so strange, because I’ve had that code for several years now but have never in my life gotten a PATH message or anything like that. Why now?
@Sheila_33: nope, no new codes.
@Ryan W: 766 is also a path credit, if its the Additional Child Tax Credit.
@Jessica: So I’ve never been PATH in my life and wasn’t last year either, even though I saw that code on my transcripts. I’ve got 3 kids, and my 3rd was born late last year and included in my return and I didn’t get a PATH message or anything.
was,NA on accopunt 30 min ago,so just checked again,now account has posted ,all good codes !!yay! just waiting on the path to lift now.
@LLMom: Any new codes show up on the previous year transcripts with the 2/20/23 date