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 āqueueā 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.
@Stephennotsignedin: WMR updates once per day usually overnight/early morning.
@Stephennotsignedin: I believe it updates all day starting around midnight, could be all day
Is Sheila here? If so, TurboTax emailed me that the issue with THEM has been fixed. We will see if I’m now accepted.
@VA757pather:Thanks
What time does wmr update
@ohhidenise: itās random
It all Depends
I have been 05 for all my years
@Morris: should be sometime next week
I filed mines in 1/21 ; by 1/24 my transcripts links were there but when I click them they are blank; mines should populate by next week.
You should see something by early next week MAYBE if not then; then you SHOULD by next Fridayā¦
I have a question if my return was accepted yesterday the 24th when will I be able to see my transcripts?
if i have been a 05 the last several years starting in 2021 and before that I was a 04, does that make me a weekly?
@Impatiently waiting: Yes same with my codes that I posted yesterday sheila answered my question yesterday to tell me. My codes are the same as your as of date 2-10-2025 if so you are finish then waiting on path to lift congratulations.
@jemar707: Good to see you as always. Personally, for me I think this if the 1st year I EVER processed this quickly. Accepted the 21, approved with DDD 1/29 today. So three days to process. If I used chime I would have it Monday. BOA of course doesn’t release early lol.
Hi oldies! Welcome newbies!
I am usually behind the curtains, making sure this ship sails. So, I didn’t know deposits were already dropping today for people in the test batch! How? NHBs. Keep me updated, and tag me @jemar707
Happy Refunding, everyone!
https://igotmyrefund.com/no-hold-bank-nhb-or-traditional-financial-institution-tfi/
I am in the first test batch but it looks like this year will DDD on the 30th. Last year got my refund on the 24th of January. It’s all good. I will post when WMR updates to a DDD folks.
Hi
I checked my transcripts today and all transcripts are populated. I have codes 150, 766, 768. I have a negative account balance. Does this mean I’m done processing and just waiting for path to lift?
@Amariex3: I feel the same way about my NY state return .. filed both 1/8/25 .. federal accepted 1/15/25 started processing blank script with 2/10/25 as of date .. people after me in NY already got state accepted .. still pending for me with turbo tax
@Amariex3: itās still just test batches running and they have been a little stingy this year with the test batches acceptances. Opening day is right around the corner
@Amariex3: the webpage froze when I was typing so hereās the rest of my message.. filed 1/15 through TT app and still not accepted and not on WMR. Iām wondering if I should re file though another tax company? I feel like my return is just stuck in the abyss. This has never happened to me before
Filed 1/15 TT still not acceptance yet and not on WME. I did it
transcript now populated all zero’s….. as of date 2/10/2025
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: I know! I imported my W2ās on both sites and triple checked that the amounts were the same. Made sure all my credits matched, etcā¦..everything was the same. My federal was around $400 less, and my state was around $400 less tooā¦.totaling that $800 difference. H&R didnāt charge me any fees either like TT does, so I hope it pays off (pun intended) š
@Honeybee82: thatās crazy about the difference! I wonder what the $800 difference is from.
Hi everyone! Happy Tax season, I filed last night and my return was approved this morning, TT advance deposited instantly, but I canāt transfer out or access my funds, has this happened to anyone else using the Credit Karma card?
I promise I wouldn’t file early but I filed anyway. My return was accepted today and WMR shows one bar saying the tax return has been received and is being processed. (Pather). Now it begins. Best of luck to everyone.
Is it normal for WMR to update same day? My return just got accepted today and WMR was already updated. I filed yesterday.
@Eriona: lol I completely understand!! Iām hoping the fact that Iāve used H&R before wonāt trigger any kind of flagā¦.especially since I just verified my ID last year! There was just no way I was settling for $800 less by using TT again! Plus, I wasnāt tempted to get the advance againā¦so I wonāt have to wait longer for the fees to process through SBTPG. As long as I donāt get flagged again, this should be a lot smoother year! Iām hoping you donāt either! š
@JazzyBelle253: Yes, I am pretty sure it just means that haven’t processed your return yet. If you were just accepted recently it probably wont update until next week sometime. Mine says the same and I was just accepted on 1/21