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.
@Walter DOG: Thanks my friend! Now I feel confident again.
@Stephhaze: Try calling the automated phone line, you can call as much as you want to get information.
800-829-1954 I believe is the phone number
@VaGal07: same
@Dentonj88: If you’re able to access your transcripts from previous years, you can look at the cycle code and get a clue whether you’re a weekly or daily. This link may help: https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-cycle-code/
@Sheila_33: I have only checked once and it says I’ve exceeded the amount of times. Still no email from TT or signs of advance
@Brenda87: yes today got accepted hope u have good news soon
@Stephhaze: It really sounds like it. Did the Wmr update for you?
@Walter DOG: what is the ip number?
@NYkhidd: gotcha.. so there’s really no way for me to know if I’m a daily or a weekly, correct? Unless I’ve been the same for multiple years?
@Sheila_33: idME says that my return has been received and is being processed. Does that mean I was accepted?
@2blessed: just seen where you still not accepted but if you were rejected for ip number then resubmit it with the ip number then your good IRS is accepting so many test batches from different suppliers that’s what is going on that’s all Free tax USA was last week so was TT and some this week but that’s all it is they get from certain suppliers your good my friend
Starting to see a few efiles being accepted by the IRS.
Woohoo! One bar. Still nada on TT website. But happy to see WMR updated in the last hour.
I’m hoping I just got accepted. Filing status under efile details just changed on TT to pending as of 1/22/25 at 12:27 pm EST. I saw several people say theirs did this yesterday and then they received the accepted email a bit later. It’s been the file date of 1/16/25 since I filed. Fingers crossed.
@Vee2021: si was it today you got accepted I need hope I’m still in pending lol😁
My federal was accepted last week and my state was accepted this morning
@2blessed: What’s up my homie you been accepted yet just hoping you got it straightened out