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 on January 26, 2026.
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 IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
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.
Hey all,i have another update, my state return was just accepted just now, filed TurboTax on the 8th, paid fees up front, federal accepted on the 15th , I’m walking the path for sure now 😆 but I’m very patient I have saved for this so I’ll be good until the 21 next month 💰 wishing u all a very smooth tax season. The next time I’ll be here to update once I get another update…
@Wondering2025: You stated you alternate years with your dependents mother. You might go into the last year you claimed the dependent and check your old return information for the pin. Or contact the dependents mother and see if she will share it with you. I’m unsure if you call they will give you that information, but @Jocelyn has provided a phone number so you could try. Good luck.
@Mommy_3: me personally I thought that was a scam … how you offer me 5 days sooner when I don’t have any fees and my refund hit my account SAME day about 8 hours after the 846 hit ya transcripts. No 3rd party so I was confused .
I asked about this a while ago, but did anyone do the 5-day faster refund deal with TT???
On another note, loving this rare snow fall:)
@Dentonj88: Hi I hope all is well with you. I had my fees taken from my refund I filed with turbotax I filed January 15th accepted from irs on January 17th I been checking sbtpg.com and it says account unavailable this is for 2024 tax year I can see 2023 tax year with no problem are you able to see 2024 tax year on sbtpg thankyou.
@Christi86TX: check your spam box on your email for the day you filed on turbo tax. If you haven’t gotten the refund advance you were most likely denied even if turbo tax said you were “prequalified” the advance isn’t actually from turbo tax so the email
Isn’t from them.
@Wondering2025: if it’s specifically asking for a minor dependent PIN, you will need to contact the IRS at 800-908-4490.
Just got accepted! 🙌🏼
And we never got that TT email🤔
@Sheila_33: it’s for my dependent though. Would that still be in my tax account?
@Chris (Not signed in): Yep! It said Great News! Your federal return was accepted. Cheers to a job well done! And I hadn’t even efiled at that point. Was still checking over my info. I’ve been nervous since because that was a major glitch.
@Christi86TX: No Still waiting
@Mbry0625: man I’ve never experienced this! Do you think it’s a error?
@VaGal07: that acceptance you got while filing was from TurboTax themselves. I got the same thing.
@Wondering2025: I’m going through the exact same thing. I was to instructed to sign in to the IRS website and I would find my ip pin number, which i did find it. I filed 1/7 and was rejected 1/18. Resubmitted it on 1/18 and now I’m just waiting to see if they accepted it. I never had this done before. Praying for a good outcome. 🙏🏾
@Wondering2025: Go into your tax account. You should be able to find it there.
@Kara: Same. No updates at all. Filed 1/16 with TT. What’s strange is I received an accepted notification while I was filing my taxes, like before I even got to the end to efile. So that makes me super nervous with their software.
Hello all. I was accepted today, filed with TT, showing one bar on WMR with standard topic152, but no advance into Credit Karma, I feel like last year I had the money practically instantly. Has anyone gotten the advance or even the email about the advance yet?
Welcome All Again.
Hopefully we all have a smooth sailing of tax year regardless to everything going on in the World. Happy New Year!!!
Will folks in a test batch still see sbtpg update prior to receiving a deposit?
My return was rejected and is asking for a pin.l for my daughter.. why would it ask this and where do I find the pin? Me and the child’s mother switch years filing her
This is a complete and total nightmare. Never in my life have I ever waited longer than an hour or two for an acceptance. There is nothing worse than waiting on money that you need for your family.
Oh boy… my first login here of the year and I’m not liking what I’m reading lol.