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.
@ImBreakingEvenNextYear: I am with you on this trip 100% still waiting….
@Harry a: okay I get it now yes only mine and not my husband’s. But we filed injured spouse so his probably wouldn’t be there because I’m the primary on our taxes.
@Harry a: what do you mean?? I’m kinda following you because we’ve both been waiting a whileee!! But what’s missing off yours so I can look at mine lol im at 120 days as well
@Harry a: filed and accepted 1/29 60 day review letter 3/13 another on 4/11 and another on 5/28 . WMR updated today with DD of 6/3.
Ijust checked wage section on transcript and saw it only had my earnings not my wives anyone else?
Day 120 1/3rd of a year are u kidding me irs
@LeeLoo: any updates
@LeeLoo: bruh and some people will defend it. I wanted to finance my schooling this year 😪. Spouse just delivered boy.this refund is long overdue. Infact I didn’t receive my Covid payment. All this is money that could help me right now but screw me let’s forgive someone loans. Why don’t they forgive all our loans
@Jacky_FL: No I wish I would’ve but I was thinking it would’ve been like 2019 when i was hit with the same 4464c letter. I only waited 60 days and they gave me my date on the 60 day mark but this year i was told to wait the whole 120 days if they dont release it i will get another letter.
@ImBreakingEvenNextYear: ain’t it the truth!
Disheartening when we see our govt continually giving away money and forgiving student loans on and in .
But we wait for our overpaid tax mibey which they have already distributed elsewhere .
Kinda sounds like theives to me.
Thank goodness I know how to be frugal and sooooo blessed cause my mortgage is paid off.
Don’t see how other “ regular” people are making ends meet in this economy. We’ll all wait together.
Good luck to you !
I feel like a lot of us waiting for our refunds, who got hit with the 60 day notices and the 570 codes, seem to be people who filed during the 1/19-1/29 period. F/A 1/24 myself. My wage transcripts just updated Tuesday. Was as of 2/26 until about 4 weeks ago when it changed to 5/20. My tax topic 152 disappeared on my WMR long ago. So, wondering when I finally get my refund if it will be a check. My return was simple–one child, one W2. Same as last 3 years. Had to amend because my company sent a corrected W2. Did that on 3/24 and it was reflected on my acct transcripts the very next day. Still waiting in limbo though. I’m a weekly, so crossing my fingers for Friday, but not counting on it. This tax year has been the biggest clusterf*@k.
@Red Dawn: idk after I verified 2 months ago my wages filled in and been like that ever since. Hoping to update this Friday since tomorrow makes my 60 days. 🤞
Finally after over a month of waiting no calls finally got my 4883c letter to verify did the phone call today and verified
@Dj:
Did you request at any time ‘help’ from Advocate and/or Congressperson?
@Harry a: good vibes for friday!!🤞✨️
9 more days until i hit my 120 day mark on June 7th ready to see will I get a letter or will i get the 571 & 846 codes
wage and income Transcript filled in yesterday All other transcripts has been filled in since Feb
as of date 3/4 filed 1/29
I F/A 1/29/2024 – this will be the 5th year that I have gone thru all kinds of delays!! I file IS (husband child support, he had cancer and voice box removed), so I expect the 11 week wait, but this is ridiculous, got a notice for a math error in my favor back in March, then a notice stating I owe 121.00 for 2008 really? I paid that on the 13th of May account states I owe ZERO! can I just get my money. I have gotten my refund as late at September, used TAS every year, last year included congressman, (not that any of them makes it any sooner!!) Today my W2 finally filled out but transcript is still sitting there with as of date changed from 3/4/2024 to 6/3/2024, which is Monday let’s see what they can come up with now.
@Eddleman23: yes
@Denise’s: same, I’m beyond done with this year. I’m now putting 8 dependents on my w4 at work. If I’m still owed a refund, at least it will be very small or I will just owe. I’m done after this year.
I received a additional 60 day review letter yesterday 😡 after my 3 as of dated passed on the 20th
@Harry a: are you a weekly?
Day 119 wages still filled in no other changes except more broke
@shelleybeanss: that is just ridiculous!! It does NOT take that long to review ANYTHING!! I will lose my $H!t if I get another letter!!
🤞🏼
🙏🏼
My wages box is also filled in!! The HAS to be a good thing!! Only movement I’ve seen in months. !! Fingers crossed🤞
@TisTheSeasonOfTorture: i don’t know what is going on there this year, but nothing makes any kind of sense. My first letter was the 4464, which stated 60, then when i called on the 60th day, was told 4464 should say 120, not 60. Then around a month after that phone call, i reached out to my congressman, and within days received a “we’re still looking, and can take up to 60 days” letter. Now, well before that 60 days was up, i get this letter. No idea what is going on. Just want it all to end
@shelleybeanss: I filed around the same time but the IRS went straight to the 120 days with one letter. I’m really curious but also terrified to see what happens at the 120 day mark.
@TisTheSeasonOfTorture: filed/accepted third week of january. 570 code appeared mid february. Today’s letter is my third “we need an additional 60 days” bs. :/ Im just so done. But hopeful that since wage transcripts filled today that maybe something is happening. I can’t get a single answer on exactly what is holding it up. The reps I’ve talked to give very generic “we’re just reviewing” info. The letters never state what they’re looking at. Pretty basic return. w2, 1099, and 3 dependents
@lEElOO I got the same error, just clear out your browser and try again.
My transcripts still not updated with
As of date 4/08/2024
But this only appeared on on of the
Transcripts.what in blue blazes
Does this mean?
Doesn’t sound good……
Revenue Service
United States Department of the Treasury
The system has encountered an unrecoverable error processing Transaction 106042264260 – 1.
Ne apologize for any inconvenience this delay nay cause.
Please try again later or contact the IRS.
@shelleybeanss: 🤯 how long has it been for you already?
@shelleybeanss: That sucks
Well mail arrived with my letter. It’s a 2645c, which states they need an additional 60 days to review information/documents they’ve received. They haven’t requested any from me, so I assume maybe jobs, etc have sent something they requested