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.
@moe: Congratulations 🎉
Got DD 5/1 going on credit karma card will I get it sooner ?
We had our taxes done the first of Feb and did it electronically have not received our refund
Day 89 no changes and now i see fafsa is processing next years college loan i need my return to pay next college tuition , behind on rent and other bills,at least my state just paid 380.00 on my gas bill everything else im screwed thanks irs by the way my friend built his house in less days lol
@Iwantitnow: question did your account status happen to update to 0$ for 2023? Mine been appearing and disappearing all weekend and this morning! I f/a 1/29/24, verified 3/22/24, they verified on 3/27/24! The last agent I spoke with swore that I didn’t fully verify and would need to call the number on the letter even though that number has a high call volume! Anyway I was able to get a callback from the protection line and a lady says “ sir believe what I’m telling you that you already verified” so the regular agents will tell you anything! I also reached out to my congressman and sent in my 23’ tax return! My processing date is 5/6/24 so we shall see!
Good morning! Hope yall get updates this week! It’s coming! Just a reminder I filed 1/17 and got stuck with 570 mid February and had to amend. I just got my DDD late last week for 5/1. It shows on transcript but not on Where’s My Amended. Reach out to your congress especially if you have any late bills or debts, medical etc. Submit that to them in a email and tell them you need your money NOW!
I suppose, looking on the bright side, those of us that received the 4464C in February, we’re in the home stretch of this thing. I think May and June a lot of us that have had no updates are going to start getting some movement. 🤞
@Sunflower173: I was told the same about the letter that they’re supposed to state 120 days, rather than 60. Not sure why everyone’s letters say 60, and rep couldn’t tell me either. She was kind though and tried to look into my acct for me. My as of moved from 3/4 to 5/6 last week. :/
@Sunflower173: same. My as of was 4/11. Date came and went then it changed to 5/6. Had me thinking I was owed some interest. We’ll see what happens by May 6.
@Harry a: Nope my transcript never updated. My as of date was Feb.26th. I’m cycle 05. I received a 4446c letter stating I had to wait up to 60 days. I called them and they stated I had to wait up to 120 days not 60 days. I guess the lady was right, because my 60 day mark has passed it was April 22nd. Smh..🤦🏻♀️
@Harry a: transcript’s could update anytime though. Example, I’m 05’er but I’ve never updated on Friday. The one update I had was on a Wednesday.
@Harry a: looks like nothing. Tuesday is a mass update for transcripts.
My account stopped updating my as of and processing date has passed
On transcript calender what do they do on mondays?
@Harry a: NOTHING😮💨
Got DD May 1 going on credit karma card will i get it early ?
Day 88 no updates anyone seeing anything?
@Red Dawn: oh okay!!! My processing date is by 05/06/24 so we’ll shall see which direction this goes! Thanx
@LostNthesauce: It does that every Sunday.
So my account status updated to amount owed 0$ 04/28/24,…when I go to view balance details: 2023 is 0 huh 🤔
@Jacky_FL not logged in: It seems like its working
@meow:
Idk Hun ..
When I’m logged in, I cannot post anymore.
I wonder if the IRS infiltrated our precious IGMR …..
I 💜 IGMR
@Jacky_FL not logged in: why are there 2 of us with the same name meow. i didnt post that first reply
@TisTheSeasonOfTorture: Exactly. When congress takes over you can no longer request information from the IRS or TA. TA has to contact them to relay information to you. Or if you have a good advocate they may contact you as I’ve seen some people say . For me no response after 5 weeks from the advocate nor did congress have any information for me. Again had I known my experience would be this way I would have never got my hopes up with asking for an advocate. Honestly for me it has added more frustration to my situation. I was ok waiting on just the IRS but knowing that you supposedly have congress and advocate working on your behalf and still not getting results is insane.
@Harry a: 🙏🏼
Day 87 no changes and have not heard anything from my congressman
@Red Dawn: I hope that this is happening for you🙏🏼
@meow: This is more than wrong! Please, call your local Legal Aid office to get help with a pro Bono Attorney. Sometimes a ltr from Atty does miracles.
Good luck 🙏🏼 Let us know!
@Eddleman23:
Above on IGMR is TAS info.
I faxed form911, then called.
I tried in March and April.
Both times they’d not accept my request “call back after 6/28”- meaning IN JULY.
If you try, I hope you have better luck 🙏🏼
@Eddleman23:
I faxed Form 911 to TA service.
I tried twice (March & April) – both times they would not accept my request “call back after 6/28”, meaning JULY….
If you try, I hope you have better luck 🙏🏼
@F/A January!: not as of yet
So since 2 amended returns were filed, does that mean I reset myself? 🥹
How do I get ahold of an advocate ?
Long story short, the date of contact that I was given yesterday of June 7th is when the advocate expects to have everything done. 🤞 I’m just ready to be done.
After not updating again over night I called the advocate line back. The lady wouldn’t transfer me to intake but did explain to me that because my congressional representative is involved I will not hear directly from the advocate. I will have to wait for my congressional office to play middle man. Had I known that I’m not sure that I would have taken it to them. Also, she explained that the advocate has 4 weeks to make contact, in this case it will be with the congressional office.
@meow: This is so wrong and unbelievable. Please, call your local Legal Aid on Monday to get a pro bono Attorney to help you getting your money! Good luck Hun🙏🏼
@LostNthesauce: Did they call you back?