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.
I have on transcript Account Balance – and an amount then I have 0s then Account Balance plus accruals – and same amount what does this mean? i have codes 150 806 766 768 as of date 2/20 i have path message
@Monee: My daughters has pushed out to 2/20 on all her transcripts but since the system won’t be able to issue the refund, it will most likely snap back to 2/13.
@DebMom also only codes on transcript are 150, 806, and 846 never have I only had 3 codes.. Maybe i’m overthinking
@Catherine: 8th
Update: everything is filled in with good codes. Just waiting on 846 🥰
@vanessaa: just check mine change i quess a while ago to 2/20
I have a question. I got an 846 refund issued for Feb 8 and a processing date of Feb 20. On which day will I most likely receive my refund??
@DebMom thanks dear! I need to update profile from last year but I thought I had EITC this year .. how can I confirm?
@Monee: Yes, that may be the cause of it.
@Tom Felton: 7 possibly 6
Hi everyone. My transcripts updated again at 930 this morning. My Account is filled out with an 846 code and 2/8 deposit date.
@Monee: Did you have any missing payments due to you such as the monthly child credits from the year before? Sometimes the system will go in and check if there is any money owed? Check also to see if any new codes have popped up with that as of date on previous transcripts?
@vanessaa: no, I think u gonna still update today. When u checked ur account transcript is the top half showing as of date Feb 20 twice? Or still Feb 13th?
I’m sad 😢 I went back to a weekly after being a daily for a couple of years lol 🤷🏻♀️