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
49,357 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 “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.

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. justlikestealing
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      GO 2 Bank
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Blank
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: lol…. yes my friend, if only it was, I am now just hoping to make the cut for next week, which is like trying to take a QB spot from Tom Brady Or Patrick Mahomes

    Reply
  2. Blueblood91
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-15
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Credit Karma
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20220505
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @NyBeauty: i updated today to, same codes.. 150 means we proccessed, 766 is a offset reversal, and 768 is a earned income credit. all good codes

    Reply
    1
  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!

    @Walter DOG: I think the length of time you’ve been in the system may have been what triggered the messaging

    Reply
  4. 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!

    @Niki: This might help break it down for you with the dates and meanings:
    https://igotmyrefund.com/irs-transaction-codes-and-error-codes/

    Reply
    1
  5. Melanin. Being93
    • Tax Preparer:
      Other
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-27
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Wells Fargo
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Anybody get their state refund date in va and got it early

    Reply
  6. Cupncreme

    Ok so deposits are coming in for State and Federal but the Child Tax Credit is not on the federal. Will the IRS send a separate check after Mid Febuary. Just doesn’t seem right. Maybe I owed more on my federal and they took the ctc. Confused

    Reply
  7. 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!

    #Justlikestealing: I had hoped that nonsense was over with for this year. :(

    Reply
  8. Drewt0558
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-23
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-24
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20240605
    • As of:
      Feb-26
    • I Got My Refund!

    Hey Everyone…. Another year of tax season ..-and stalking this message board .. lol

    Reply
  9. justlikestealing
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-13
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      GO 2 Bank
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-16
    • Transcript:
      Blank
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    It appears I have been selected for a “Free Trip ‘ on the Re- Sequence Train”… One of the years I will learn not to file before opening day…………

    Reply
  10. Niki
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-29
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      Bank Of America
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • WMR Date:
      Feb-23
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20230505
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • Tax Refund Offset
    • I Got My Refund!

    Hello Everyone,

    I need some help understanding what my transcripts are saying. I have four different codes. It shows cycle # 20230505. It shows 150, date 02-20-2023. The other codes are 806, 766, 766, and 768, showing the date 04-15-2023.

    The return Due Date or Return Received Date is April 15, 2023, and Processing Date is 02-20-2023.

    Does anyone understand this?

    Reply
  11. chilax

    My trannys still haven’t updated….

    Reply
  12. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: thank you Sheila I guess what I’m trying to say is something triggered the still processing refund date when available message but hadn’t processed yet because transcripts was na so the 570 code couldn’t been the issue yet because wasn’t processed yet then what caused not to process and wmr change to begin with

    Reply
  13. Diana

    @inquirn23: if it’s still for a while it usually means you’ll get a letter in mail and you just have to fax the letter plus a copy of your w2 and your K40. I’ve had this happened every year for a few years now. For an update it usually updates early in the week for a deposit later on in the week.

    Reply
  14. NyBeauty
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-24
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      GD
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: thank you so much Sheila!

    Reply
  15. 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!

    @NyBeauty: The system is trying to finish and place the 846 and the freeze won’t let it. So it pushes out to finish but snaps back because it can’t.

    Reply
    1
  16. 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!

    @Walter DOG: It had to process to trigger the 570. So if there was an issue with yours you would have had to process.

    Reply
  17. Leeleebaby

    Transcripts were blank this morning with an as of date of 2-13 now everything’s filled in and my processing date is now 2-20. Does anyone know why that happened?

    Reply
  18. Maisha
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-24
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Cashapp
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Mia: nope not at all.

    Reply
  19. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: hey Sheila since his trans was NA and he got that message last week now updated with 570 you think was something wrong why it wasn’t processing yet or just when he did process something triggered the 570 code or was that the problem in the first place why that message popped up but trans was NA

    Reply
  20. NyBeauty
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-24
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bank:
      GD
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-25
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Ok so originally my As of date was 2/13 then today it changed to 2/20 I checked back just now to see if my return transcript updated but it still says no return filed even though I have codes 150 766 and 768 on my account transcript but my as of date changed back to 2/13. What’s that mean ?

    Reply
    1
  21. inquirn23

    Anyone from kansas, this is my first yr filing with kansas and was wondering how the process works. The website hasn’t update since 01/30/2023.

    Reply
  22. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: mine is same and my wmr changed to that last Friday did he claim credits and did what income w2, self employment,1099 and did he receive advanced monthly child payments trying to see if pattern

    Reply
  23. BeeBee40
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-28
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-28
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Sheila_33: thank you i appreciate your help with my daughter taxes and everyone that helped. Im just walking the path with all good codes.

    Reply
  24. BeeBee40
    • Tax Preparer:
      TaxAct
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-28
    • Fees:
      In Advance
    • Bank:
      Chime
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-28
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      20250605
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Mar-3
    • Processing Date:
      Feb-24
    • I Got My Refund!

    I’m sorry I had to run some errands today. No fees

    Reply
  25. Maisha
    • Tax Preparer:
      H&R Block
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-24
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Cashapp
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-29
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • Identity Theft
    • I Got My Refund!

    @Marco: I did the free return with HR Block

    Reply
  26. Marco

    I’m see all this people get there chime or cash app deposits today. Did y’all pay your fees upfront or take out of your return? I am stupid should have payed upfront.

    Reply
  27. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: one more question also did you claim the eitc actc credits and did y’all receive the monthly advance payments

    Reply
  28. 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!

    @Sharon. O: yes I do. Where’s my amended return says it just completed on January 27, 2023

    Reply
  29. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: we’re in same boat I see you have bar with that message boy mine changed to that last Friday morning your transcripts say NA or what and did y’all file with W2 self employment or 1099 trying to see if there’s a pattern

    Reply
  30. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: same thing happened to me mine changed last Friday morning do you still have bar that says received,approved, and sent

    Reply
  31. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @GabbySC: yes I filed and was accepted the 19th and have same message I have my bars and tax topic 152 and amount missing tell you the truth you need to fix id me so you can check but I do believe yours is id verify boy I would settle for that that’s no problem don’t know what’s up with mine trans are NA

    Reply
  32. GabbySC

    @Walter DOG: Hey Walter can I hear your tax story lol I’m trying to see if anyone has a process like mine.
    I filed on 17th accepted 19th. That Saturday I got still processing date when available. No tax topic 152. Felt like it was id verify. Can’t check transcripts because ID me has to be reset. New to the site…does anything sound like yours or anyone else’s here? Thanks all

    Reply
  33. PBkreyol
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Jan-22
    • Fees:
      From Refund
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • I Got My Refund!

    Good morning, all. I finally have my acct transcript 2022 pop up but there is no info on it. I am just thankful that I saw “2022” pop up. Any ideas.. that means they’re working in it, right?

    Reply
    1
  34. 2020 was a long year

    @Walter DOG: Sorry for the confusion. I was speed typing.
    To clarify WMR still says “accepted” (the first bar) but the message below that says:

    “Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays….”

    Yesterday I had the 21 day processing blah-blah. My apologies if I made things confusing.

    Reply
  35. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: I was responding and asking about you posted where’s my refund now says still processing refund date when available did it not change to that sorry if you didn’t

    Reply
  36. Walter DOG
    • Tax Preparer:
      FreeTaxUSA
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Netspend
    • Bars:
      No Bars-PATH Act Message
    • Date Accepted:
      Jan-19
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle Code:
      05
    • Cycle:
      Weekly
    • As of:
      Feb-20
    • I Got My Refund!

    @2020 was a long year: thought you said changed to still processing refund date when available

    Reply
  37. Sharon. O

    @Monee: Same thing happened to me. I’m waiting on my 2021 amended to finish also. Do you have an amended

    Reply
  38. Kakk
    • Tax Preparer:
      Turbo Tax
    • Date Filed:
      Feb-3
    • Fees:
      Free
    • Bank:
      Credit union
    • Bars:
      1st Bar
    • Date Accepted:
      Feb-3
    • Transcript:
      Online
    • Cycle:
      Daily
    • As of:
      Feb-26
    • I Got My Refund!

    Just filed my taxes. Already nervous. Haha.

    Reply
  39. 2020 was a long year

    @Walter DOG: WMR has not change…still just shows “accepted”

    Reply
    1
  40. Bdawgo22

    Finally! Filed on 17th accepted on 18th. Half of transcripts filled in this morning. Basic return. Checked my bank account an hour ago and I see a pending deposit for 8 feb. did mine on cash app. Hope everybody that filled early gets theirs!

    Reply