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.
the past many years, ive always waited until on or around Feb 15 to file because of the PATH Act and i usually get my refund a couple weeks after.. ive heard though if you file up to a week before the act lifts that your return, since it is already accepted, processes through when the act lifts and gets approved, you get your refund the following week instead of two weeks.. is there any truth to that? has anyone who filed that week prior to the 15th had their refund processed quicker?
@TheMadness21: yes
@shelleybeanss: I swear the IRS hate me .. I been weekly since I first did a tax return when I was 18 .. 12 whole years ago smh
Crap I forgot that since I am secondary…my info is not as visible🤭
Is anyone’s as of date on their 2023 still sitting at 01/13/2025 just wonder what’s going on I’ve been trying not to watch but its almost that time so the anxiety is starting to kick in.
@John-Jaw: That’s what I got too but I didn’t know if that was only for me because I’m not the primary taxpayer on the return. So I’ll have to check if my husband got that as well.
@NYkhidd: I feel like us weeklies get less stability in the system 😂 at least it feels that way. Been a weekly for 10 plus years. Hate it 😂
@Newman: If you’re a daily, doesn’t matter when you submit. Most of the time, a filer becomes a weekly when their return has issues. This link explains it a little better:
https://igotmyrefund.com/daily-weekly/
Did anyone get a verification of non-filing letter?
@John_Jaw: Yes, it’s normal
@Sheila_33
Checked transcripts this morning and saw this one under returned transcritps
2024 Verification of Non-Filing Letter [PDF]
is this ok until they start processing the return?
@Walter DOG: This actually happened to me last year. I was checking like a crazy person and in the morning it was blank with as of date but later that day they updated with 846 code. So this is certainly possible.
@Sheila_33: Thank you. So, if I file Monday and am accepted the same day again, odds are I’ll still remain a daily?
Filed and was accepted on 1/23.
Checked transcripts this morning and saw this one under returned transcritps
2024 Verification of Non-Filing Letter [PDF]
is this ok until they start processing the return?
The
Account Transcripts
and
Record of Account Transcripts
have not been created yet, the only ones there are from previous years.
The Wage and income for this year are there but PDF is blank.
@Yvette_200315: Not necessarily!
If you got the refund advance on turbo tax last year do you automatically get it again this year?
@Newman: I might add, this applies after the tax season opens.
@Newman: It’s because whatever day your return is accepted, it gets sent thru processing. You are a daily. Dedicated weeklys can send in their returns and have to have til Thursday of the week to be processed.
Hi, I had a question about trascript codes. The past 5 years, my codes have been- (2023) 04, (2022) 05, (2021) 05, (2020) 04, (2019) 05….Is there any reason that it keeps switching and any possible way to predict what this year might be? I always wait to file on opening day throught Turbo Tax and I pay the fees upfront.
Thank you!!!