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.
@2020 was a long year: also when did his wmr change
@2020 was a long year: when did he file I have same message with bars and 152 tax topic amount gone from side my transcripts are NA
Where’s My Refund changed to: “Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays….”
This is o.k and what I should expect to see as the process moves along?
We are walking the PATH…
@Rhonda: mines the same way.i file on the 29th. I think either in Morning it will be fully populated or next week.
@Ella: if you paid fees from refund they will be a day early at most
@Ella: no fees
@Iappreciateyall23: it’s a place holder for the IRS to take some sort of action/update whether it’s refund related or account updating on or before 2/20.
@mommyto6andcrazy: idk if my last comment posted so I’ll try again lol. I just want them to be consistent because the irs said under no circumstances could the path be lifted before February 15th. So when I got it early last year I assumed I wasn’t walking the path lol. Now I guess I am.
What does it mean when it says “as of 2/20”.
@LoveMy3Munchkins: You’re Welcome. If you log back in and check my alabama refund status it states it up top.
@DebMom: Did you pay ur fees upfront?
@Janel120: thank you so much for responding to me🥰. I can breath a lil bit now🤣 I was like what has happened.
@Sheila_33: Hey Sheila did you see my question about 570 code