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.
@Sheila_33: awesome thank u
@Junebug0625: You could go back in see if it’s been accepted yet. Some tax software let’s you pull and correct if it hasn’t been accepted yet but if not, there’s not a lot you can do other than that. If it processes and you receive a refund, best thing to do is amend and pay back anything that wasn’t due you.
@Azluckyfish: Send it registered mail and he’ll have to sign for it. That way you’ll have no contact and the receipt will show you made the attempt to provide him the document.
@MamaMia:Additional child tax credit is under the path law so it can’t be released until Feb 15th.
If I am getting the child/additional child tax credits but NOT the EITC, will my refund be delayed until March? This is the first year i’ve made enough to not qualify for EITC so just wondering if I can expect my refund at a normal time. :)
@JairahLove3:
Yay for you :) !
I filed Jan 6 , got accepted yesterday Jan 17th too :)
Jammin …
@Yandyy:
I efiled Jan 6th and Jan 17th my tax file was accepted by IRS.
@Sheila_33: hi can u help me with this please If I’m custodial parent can I send form 8332 it’s says I’m supposed to sign and give to my ex I do not have contact or want contact with my ex cause of dv so how do I go about this
I filed on the 17th.What is the last date to get in the test batch. Thanks in advance
@Sheila_33: So I need advice if anyone got any. So I went into taxslayer changed all my info cuz I had a name change and my income and I hit save and exit went back in and seen my income was right and name so I efiled got accepted and realized it didn’t change credits I had to not having them and martial status so I don’t know what to do
My wmr says wait 24 hours after email is this ok ?
So I need advice if anyone got any. So I went into taxslayer changed all my info cuz I had a name change and my income and I hit save and exit went back in and seen my income was right and name so I efiled got accepted and realized it didn’t change credits I had to not having them and martial status so I don’t know what to do
@Honeybee82: Happy to have you back!
@Impatiently waiting: I can say I’m glad 2022 is behind us and hoping 2023 is a lot smoother. Hope things are good with you. :)
@MSRazorbackPhD: thank you so much. That made the difference from me getting a refund to owing 😭
@MSRazorbackPhD: I’m more than happy to get it all at once even if it takes a bit. Gotta love that small print.
FOR THOSE WHO AMENDED IN 2021…DO NOT USE AGI FROM AMENDED RETURN USE THE ORIGINAL I GOOGLED IT AND THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS….
Always use the amount from the return you filed first (the original), not an amended one.
@Gators352: i did i checked my transcript and my turbo tax account.transcript says something different then turbo tax i put in what was on my account transcript from 2021 but on the first page of the irs website after signing in it still have my agi from before i amended not after
@Julie: Same here, our eldest turned 17! So, she’d be 17-24 yr old category. So, sad…I feel your pain!
My daughter turned 17 in July. One of the TurboTax questions is how many children under 17….does that mean she doesn’t fall into that category? I’m so confused. Help! 💜
So I need advice if anyone got any. So I went into taxslayer changed all my info cuz I had a name change and my income and I hit save and exit went back in and seen my income was right and name so I efiled got accepted and realized it didn’t change credits I had to not having them and martial status so I don’t know what to do
@Ange_O: Wow! I love reading the contracts, but the little writing TT has on their site! At least you’ll get ALL at one time!
@Ange_O: I absolutely agree, and I appreciate your response.
@MSRazorbackPhD: This is a new one to me. Thanks for letting me know that bit of the process. It was more like a third of my refund or a little under.
*you’re
@Just a question: It gave me the option (for the first time ever since I started using TT) for the advance saying I could get up to 3000. Ok, great. It then took me to CK to set up the spend checking account. Did that. It circled back to TT and then gave me the amount I could get. Rather than having to wait on a card, deal with another app, take money off one card or transfer… it was just not worth it to get an advance when I would just have to hold onto it, avoid temptation to spend it, and wait on my return anyway. So at the end, before filing, I selected to just have it put in my checking account instead of the loan.
I’m sure they do it that way to drive business to CK, but it would have saved a ton of time being able to just bypass it knowing I wouldn’t get what I needed. If its a marketing gimmick then its a good way to drive business. Just seems a little underhanded.
@Ange_O: It’s normally 50% of your refund. However per the site, approval isn’t until after your accepted!
Filed 1/15 Got Accepted today 🎊
@Ange_O: were you approved or prequalified for the loan?
Hello everyone!! I haven’t been able to file yet, because I still haven’t received my W2’s…but I’m excited to be back with the gang for another eventful year! 😉
Filed with TT on the 6th. Still pending.
I got approved for the adv loan, did the CK set up and all then it gave me the loan amount they could offer. I didn’t accept it since it was not enough for what I needed and getting it all at once in my bank is way better. I had them close that account at CK.
Anyone know why they won’t give you the loan amount available BEFORE you go through the CK setup?