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.
On another note, loving this rare snow fall:)
@Dentonj88: Hi I hope all is well with you. I had my fees taken from my refund I filed with turbotax I filed January 15th accepted from irs on January 17th I been checking sbtpg.com and it says account unavailable this is for 2024 tax year I can see 2023 tax year with no problem are you able to see 2024 tax year on sbtpg thankyou.
@Christi86TX: check your spam box on your email for the day you filed on turbo tax. If you haven’t gotten the refund advance you were most likely denied even if turbo tax said you were “prequalified” the advance isn’t actually from turbo tax so the email
Isn’t from them.
@Wondering2025: if it’s specifically asking for a minor dependent PIN, you will need to contact the IRS at 800-908-4490.
Just got accepted! 🙌🏼
And we never got that TT email🤔
@Sheila_33: it’s for my dependent though. Would that still be in my tax account?
@Chris (Not signed in): Yep! It said Great News! Your federal return was accepted. Cheers to a job well done! And I hadn’t even efiled at that point. Was still checking over my info. I’ve been nervous since because that was a major glitch.
@Christi86TX: No Still waiting
@Mbry0625: man I’ve never experienced this! Do you think it’s a error?
@VaGal07: that acceptance you got while filing was from TurboTax themselves. I got the same thing.
@Wondering2025: I’m going through the exact same thing. I was to instructed to sign in to the IRS website and I would find my ip pin number, which i did find it. I filed 1/7 and was rejected 1/18. Resubmitted it on 1/18 and now I’m just waiting to see if they accepted it. I never had this done before. Praying for a good outcome. 🙏🏾
@Wondering2025: Go into your tax account. You should be able to find it there.
@Kara: Same. No updates at all. Filed 1/16 with TT. What’s strange is I received an accepted notification while I was filing my taxes, like before I even got to the end to efile. So that makes me super nervous with their software.
Hello all. I was accepted today, filed with TT, showing one bar on WMR with standard topic152, but no advance into Credit Karma, I feel like last year I had the money practically instantly. Has anyone gotten the advance or even the email about the advance yet?
Welcome All Again.
Hopefully we all have a smooth sailing of tax year regardless to everything going on in the World. Happy New Year!!!
Will folks in a test batch still see sbtpg update prior to receiving a deposit?
My return was rejected and is asking for a pin.l for my daughter.. why would it ask this and where do I find the pin? Me and the child’s mother switch years filing her
This is a complete and total nightmare. Never in my life have I ever waited longer than an hour or two for an acceptance. There is nothing worse than waiting on money that you need for your family.
Oh boy… my first login here of the year and I’m not liking what I’m reading lol.
Just checked irs.gov mine was accepted. Now we just see how long TT takes to update
@Amariex3: it seems like a much smaller test batch year so far
I actually just checked mine and now WMR is saying received with the standard Tax Topic 152 message. No update to TT or transcripts though. No advance yet either! But it is progressing lol
And nothing on sbtpg
@Blake: Same Here No Advance Yet or update on turbo I have 1bar though
Filed 1/15 with TT paid fees upfront still says pending on TT and WMR can’t even find me yet. Hopefully everything is OK has me a bit worried. I’ve never waited so long in the past for an acceptance.
@Blake: Same here but I don’t even have 1 bar on WMR yet. I filed 01/13 and no update to TT, transcripts, or WMR for me yet. Guess I will patiently wait for the 27th-28th lol.
Hello everyone! This year I filed with FreeTaxUSA. I didn’t feel like paying TT this year lol I’m hoping we have a smooth year! 🙏🏼✨🫶🏽
@Kmh1090: im wondering the same thing, i’m in the same boat … some other people in the r/turbotax subreddit in the same boat
@Kmh1090: They are having tons of issues! Tons!