For all the people
impatiently waiting
on tax refunds.

A grapevine for taxpayers,
by taxpayers.

Interact with people who have experiences or questions just like you.

All of your tax refund questions, answered.
What Other People Are Saying
49,350 comments

Where’s My Refund?

You have questions, we have answers.

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 ā€œqueueā€ 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.

IRS Update Cycle

Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.

Transcripts

This is what your IRS transcript can tell you about your tax refund.

Transaction Codes

Lookup the codes that you see on your tax return transcript and what they mean.

Daily vs. Weekly

Find out if you have a daily or weekly account with the IRS and what it means.

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.

talk to a human

It is often hard to reach someone at the IRS and you might want to talk to a person. It is hard to reach some tax preparation companies too. Use our guide to talk to a human at the IRS.

TAX TOPIC 152

Tax Topic 152 is the most common status when you check the status of your tax refund. It is nothing to worry about.

transcript codes

Transaction Codes (TC) sometimes called transcript codes consist of three digits and may appear on your IRS account transcript. Decipher the codes on your IRS transcripts.

reference codes

Most times the Wherer’s My Refund tool (WMR) will show Tax Topic 152. Other times you may see various error codes. These are called Reference Codes on the WMR.

Join the Conversation

What Others Are Saying

  1. Chrisc

    Just got accepted today, no dependents. When should I expect my refund if I have a bank that pays early

    Reply
  2. Dentonj88

    Have a silly question – filed w Turbotax, submitted this morning. Currently, the progress line is on “pending”, but the “pending” bubble is not filled in. Is there any significance to that? So used to seeing the silly things filled in and I just want to make sure I did it correctly

    Reply
  3. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Impatiently waiting: First path weekly deposit update would be for the 26th.

    Reply
    1
  4. Impatiently waiting
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-7
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @HereIgoAgain2024: Were you able to get you IP pin. I got mine online through my IRS account. Does it delay are refund? I have filed with IP since 2015 and It has never delayed my refund.

    Reply
  5. Impatiently waiting
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-7
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    Just got accepted 30 minutes ago. Does anyone know the first DDD with weekly’s with path? I know last year I got my deposit February 16 with bluebird.

    Reply
  6. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    For those of you that use Bluebird American express for your direct deposit, please be aware that in March 2025, if your balance is below $9.99 or your account has not been used in 12 months, your account will be closed. Just a heads up.

    Reply
    1
  7. Moonpie
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bars:
      What Bars?
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-15
    • Date Approved:
      Jan-15

    @Fine mom of 5: I was accepted yesterday. No fees, but I did get an advance. Haven’t received it yet though.

    Reply
    1
  8. LWBOSS

    @Monee: I did but I’m not showing on wmr just yet should be later this morning or by tomorrow.

    Reply
    2
  9. Monee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Varo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-15
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Is anyone who got accepted yesterday showing on wmr yet?

    Reply
  10. LWBOSS

    @Fine mom of 5: I did yesterday

    Reply
    1
  11. Babyray

    Hello

    Reply
  12. Tia
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    Heey. It’s tax season again. I have never filed before the date IRS starts offically accepting returns. Is it worth it or stressful? Might try filling earlier this year.

    Reply
    1
  13. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Fine mom of 5: I have seen one with Turbo tax accepted. Fees paid up front and no advance. I think we’ll possibly see more today.

    Reply
  14. Hazel

    filed 1/8 TT path, ip pin, w/ refund advance. shows Received by IRS: Wednesday, Jan 15 at 4:35 PM EST but still pending. hope to see this update to accepted within 24 hours.

    Reply
    1
  15. Fine mom of 5

    Has anybody got accepted with turbo tax

    Reply
    2
  16. Trish86er

    Hey Yall! How did 2024 treat ya? I hope ok, I am going to get to the point. Does anyone know why I would be getting less in credits this year rather than last year? I am so confused and I did opt for a tax pro but I haven’t submitted my return in yet.

    Reply
  17. KinFl not logged in

    @HereIgoAgain2024: I just looked because I never follow up like I should, and there’s a list of reasons why on their website. We filed a few of the forms listed so that prevents us from being eligible. You can find it in their Q&A!

    Reply
  18. HereIgoAgain2024

    They didn’t offer me an advance either!

    Reply
  19. HereIgoAgain2024

    Will there be any explanation this year about the new IP PINs the IRS offered this year and how they may affect returns for pathers?

    Reply
  20. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Amy19: Hey lady! Nice to see ya. :)

    Reply
  21. Drblute

    @@TexansTaxesInTexas: man I really hope the best for you I don’t think I can dive any deeper into this man

    Reply
    1
  22. KinFl not logged in

    Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Taxes this year stunk! Both kids are over 17 so no big refund anymore. Thank goodness I don’t really need a big refund. They are just nice to have.
    This is the first year TT didn’t offer me the advance. I wonder if it’s because my refund was so small? šŸ¤”
    Anyhoo, here’s hoping to no glitches!! Sent them tonight. Maybe I’ll get lucky in the test batch!

    Reply
    3
  23. jemar707

    Welcome back, regulars! And welcome to any newbies too! Everyone can compare notes, opinions, share their experiences… as long as we all play nice. May this season go smoothly. fingers crossed.

    Reply
    11
  24. jemar707

    @TexansTaxesInTexas: HUB testing started today. People have been accepted.

    Reply
    8
  25. shelleybeanss
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CK
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-22
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-18
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    @@TexansTaxesInTexas: been with this page for over 10 years now. This just isn’t true and it’s beyond unhelpful for the other members here. Support or sit it out

    Reply
    1
  26. shelleybeanss
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      CK
    • Bars:
      2nd Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-22
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-18
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-10
    • Processing Date:
      Mar-3
    • I Got My Refund!

    I truly hope the negativity and conspiracy theory junk goes away. It’s already starting here.

    Reply
    1
  27. @TexansTaxesInTexas

    @Drblute: “plus what would someone gain by ā€œ promotingā€ a tax service lol”

    If you’ve been here long enough you’d know big tax companies hire people, LIKE YOU, to prey upon less seasoned folks to make them go with them.

    How? By promoting a certain company or making another one look bad.

    Reply
  28. Amy19
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Mar-4
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: Good evening! I hope you are doing good. I’m praying for a smooth sailing tax season for everyone here. Thanks again for all you do here, it’s appreciated.

    Reply
    5
  29. NYkhidd

    Filed 1/8/25 IRS just accepted my return 1/15/25 6:45 pm EST . TEST BATCH LEGGO . I’m in NY state used turbo tax

    Reply
    8
  30. Drblute

    @TexansTaxesInTexas: plus what would someone gain by ā€œ promotingā€ a tax service lol last I checked using what ever service people use is for their specific needs also cost. My 12 years of files are with turbo tax just makes it easy for me judging by your comments of ā€œbaitā€ your def new to this just relax and let the irs do their thing man

    Reply
    2
  31. Drblute

    @TexansTaxesInTexas: I use turbo tax last 12 years iv been doing my taxes guy. You really need to just chill my dude like someone said before if we could insert screenshots I have no issue showing

    Reply
    1
  32. Monee
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-8
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Varo
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-15
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: I filed with free tax usa on the 7th or 8th

    Reply
    2
  33. LWBOSS

    @HereEvEyear: TurboTax I filed on the 8th. Paid fees upfront also didn’t sign up for refund advance, I want my whole refund at one time 😊

    Reply
    3
  34. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Pleasehelp1: As of now, I think you’re fine, but you might check that transcript once a week until your 2025 processes and posts. :)

    Reply
  35. Pleasehelp1

    @Sheila_33: it says as of date Nov 2024

    Reply
  36. TexansTaxesInTexas

    @Drblute: “@TexansTaxesInTexas: clearly you don’t tho bud years past usually freetaxusa goes first then TurboTax watch and see”

    Lol. So promoting FreeTaxUsa. Like I said, bait.

    Reply
  37. @TexansTaxesInTexas

    @Drblute:

    “@TexansTaxesInTexas: clearly you don’t tho bud years past usually freetaxusa goes first then TurboTax watch and see”

    Lol. So promoting FreeTaxUsa. Like I said, bait.

    Reply
  38. 2118monique

    Those of you accepted today and tomorrow, would you please say when you filed and the tax software/company used. Thank you

    Reply
    4
  39. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Pleasehelp1: If you’re not seeing any dates and that doesn’t change, you may be ok. Is your as of date on the 2024 a 2024 date?

    Reply
    0
  40. Sheila_33
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-9
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Bluebird
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-17
    • Date Approved:
      Feb-16
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-16
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      04
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-10
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-19
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Pleasehelp1: Most likely won’t see a change on the 2025 until it processes. Check your 2024 transcript and see if there’s any codes with the 2025 dates beside them.

    Reply