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.
Early hub testing may start back in today and continue until Friday of this week. It is also possible that we may see some returns processing today and updates on transcripts tomorrow. Good luck everyone!
@DM: Its a standard letter. Just means you haven’t processed yet. People are able to use those when they’re in the process of purchasing a home and the bank asks for prior tax year returns for verification of income.
On January 21, 2025, we received a request for verification of non-filing of
a tax return.As of the date of this letter, we have no record of a processed tax return
for the tax period listed above.
Does anyone know what this means, this is what I am seeing on my transcript now, anyone see the same, I was accepted on 1/16 and filed on 1/8
I’m on path wasn’t offered the advance when I filed with turbo tax .. I can wait .. my NYS return usually drops 1st week of February .. NYS be taxing smh .. state return alone almost 2k they don’t hold for path like federal
Can I file a return with my last pay stub?
@StaceyinPA: that’s good to know with the EIC and CTC… that’s what I’ve been stressing about with mine.
@Dentonj88: Hers was a basic return: one w2, $55k, 3 kids, no special credits other than EIC and ACTC.
It feels like after the disastrous year TT had last tax season, they’re being extra cautious about updating people’s accounts. Or they weren’t prepared this year. Either way, as long as I see my money in a timely manner I do not care
@Dentonj88: considering it’s the irs, strange things do happen. I’m here for those types of strange things :) give us our money!!
@shelleybeanss: oh that’s encouraging.. I’m hoping I see movement on mine today. Was i correct though in understanding a previous message where someone got their refund prior to WMR and TT status updated?
@Dentonj88: the advance would still arrive regardless of eic. And I’ve seen TT users with earned income credit get accepted last week. I feel like it’s just in much smaller numbers this year for the test batches so far. Hoping that changes today
@StaceyinPA: thanks for the info.. she have any specific tax credits or just a regular refund (asking for comparisons take.. I’ve got EIC which i think is mid Feb but I need a little bit of hope 🥹)
Good morning. Came to let everyone know that my daughter just got her advance deposit from TT and CK. I filed her 1/8, she went to pending 1/15. 10 minutes ago she got a notification of the deposit. Her TT still shows pending and WMR shows no info found. So if people are waiting, perhaps they will get deposits or are actually accepted but not showing that way.
@Sheila_33: thank you so much for that information it had me up most the night worrying about something I have no control over. Thanks again for the help. Bless you
@Stephennotsignedin: They may not have been entered into their systems yet. In the past SSA has been a week or two behind and employers are not required to send in until the end of January, But I have seen quite a few people process before Jan. 31st and before their w2s ever updated.
@Mommy05: There have not been tons of early acceptances. Perhaps today will be different🤞🏽 for many!
Filed with TT on 1/15 still NOT ACCEPTED. This the first year it ever did that. I’ve been filing with them for years , usually around same time & was either accepted a min later or the very next day . I honestly don’t know what’s going on this year . Nothing has changed for me either .
Filed with TT on 1/15 still NOT ACCEPTED. This the first year it ever did that. I’ve been filing with them for years , usually around same time & was either accepted a min later or the very next day . I honestly don’t know what’s going on this year . Nothing has changed for me either .
My ssa still not showing my W2 wages I made last year and I’ve already been accepted by irs will this cause issues
@Jaxs: accepted on TT, received on WMR (one bar), filed 1/16 and got the acceptance message from TT on the 17th
@Wondering2025: Depending on how old the debt is, you may have to check that year.
@Dentonj88: were you accepted? I filed 1/17 not accepted yet.
@DreamLooks: Welcome back! Hopefully, a smooth year for everyone!
Welcome to another tax year! I’ve been watching this site for over 10 years AT LEAST! lol. I started a business last year and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that everything flows smoothly. Good Luck everyone!
Does anyone know if it’s a specific time of day where WMR or the irs site will update? I don’t have any movement yet…was hoping I’d see something today