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.
@James145: good question. I filed this morning….still hasn’t changed.i know it’s early lol but in past no matter who I used to file it would be accepted in minutes. It’s been probably 4 or 5 years since I’ve filed with TT and this year I applied for advance. Submitted this morning around 830am eat. I know they do not open the so called flood gates until 9qm today though. When I look at wmr it says it does not recognize my info
Well never mind. I checked TT and it says my return was received by IRS as the status and my info is in WMR with one bar, but I never got anything saying accepted. First time this happened
@Woods423$: did you do it through TurboTax? Also when did you submit it?
Anyone in California state return says accepted on tax software website but doesn’t show up on the ftb as accepted yet? I’ve been accepted since January 22,2025 and still it doesn’t show on ftb website.
Last year I got accepted about 11:19am lol hopefully that’s the same today lol
Filed 1/24 TT stuck on pending. Never takes this long to be accepted. What’s going on? Any thoughts?
@Sheila_33: thanks that’s what I was thinking
I just got accepted finally!
@Felice: Possible problems with your return.
Hey yalllllllll back for yet another year!! I actually get pretty excited jumping in this chat each year lol. I’m hoping we all have a smooth tax season 😌
@Flgirl68: Honestly don’t know unless since it’s 2023 you’re gonna have to do a mailed return. Speculation on my part.
Submitted my return on 1/6 via TT and not accepted yet. Hoping it gets accepted at some point today, but what do I do if it doesn’t update to accepted/rejected and just remains pending? Getting a little nervous….
https://igotmyrefund.com/daily-weekly/
@kayrose: It’s possible you attempted to process (0s) and didn’t so now you have to cycle thru again this week.
@Sheila_33: Does that mean that since last week was a holiday monday processing for daily was tuesday and update to transcript wed? Cause I checked all day tuesday nothing and wed at 4am my transcript showed up with 0s.
Happy New Tax Season folks!
Filed this morning and now waiting to be accepted. I moved last year, so hoping that doesn’t cause any issues. Fingers crossed for a smooth experience! No additional credits so not on the path this year!
@Ken G: me!
How do I know
If imma daily or?
@Kjammer09: I agree and thank you
GATES ARE OPEN .. turbo tax just updated NY state just received my return at 10:08 am est waiting for it to change to accepted . Federal was accepted 1/15
@Bama91: Standard messaging. Just shows your return hasn’t finished processing yet.
@Kjammer09 just to add…. I filed 15th. I checked WMR on 16th 3xs in close time frame and it stated info didn’t match. So I exceed my limit for checking so I didnt check again until the 17th that’s when I had one bar and then hours later TT updated
Anyone else filed with TT still waiting on acceptance???? Filed Friday 1/24 i r s website says info not found. First time waiting over 48 hours for acceptance.
@sheila33 hi Sheila. Why won’t turbo tax let me transmit my 2023 (not 2024)return through my account. It says turbo tax not open for the season: I know it’s opens today. I tried around 7:30 this morning eastern time. Did I do it too early or is there a problem
@Mrs. P (not signed in): Agreed. :)
Is this bad?
My return transcript says:
We received a verification of non-filing of a tax return
Wage&income:
No record of return filed.
@Harris: oh thank you lol that’s awesome. Positivity is a necessity in life!!! :) hope you get your refund ASAP!!
Good morning! I sure hope this year doesn’t end up like 2020. That was such a hot mess @Sheila_33:
Daily processing today, updates on transcripts tomorrow if the pattern holds. Weekly processing and 05s dailies Thursday with transcripts updates on Friday.