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.
@Felice: I had a DDD of today, 01/29. My federal deposit was in my Wells Fargo account on 01/27 at 304pm
haven’t gotten accepted from irs.. if something is wrong why are they taking so long to reject it again.. UGGGHHH! The lady customer service at TT saying give it a few more hours and it should update
@OU812: no you have your DDD
Who else had a DD for today and has got nothing yet? Does it depend on where you are? We are in Kansas
@GrandRiver7: So you’re showing a direct deposit date of 2/17 on WMR?
@Dentonj88: normal
@Dentonj88: As far as I know it does. I know there are a lot of different reasons that one can become weekly but after I ID verified last year I only updated with the weeklies. I just don’t know how long we remain weeklies.
@OLTFREEFILER: gotcha..thanks! I’m super stressed so any little nugget of info helps :)
@Dentonj88: yea 152 is normal,path message usually shows once transcripts process
@OLTFREEFILER: would a PATH message show for EIC or is it normal for EIC to have the Tax Topic 152 thing?
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: do you know if ID verify will always bump you to weekly? I dealt with the verify fiasco last year and wondering if that’s what happened to me
@Dentonj88: no path message different,and Thurs update for weeklies,into Fri morn,shows fri
@G: i haven’t had issues today
Hello, I requested a IP Pin this year. Did it because of all the data breaches. I filled 1/22/2025 thru TT. Accepted by IRS 1/23/2025. I have 1 bar on WMR with your return is being processed and topic 152. Account transcript has all 0’s with an as of date 2/17/2025. Last year my cycle code was 03. Wondering if the IP pin has caused me to return to weekly? I was weekly for years and then a few years ago I moved to daily.
Anyone know if the IP pin would cause a change from daily to weekly?
@OU812: when did you file? (Apologies if you answered this previously)
Two questions> Is tax topic 152 the same as PATH message or is PATH message different on WMR?
> Do weeklies update Thursday overnight into Fri or Fri overnight into Saturday? Idk if im at weekly (no cycle codes yet, just an as of date, prior years cycle codes have been here there and everywhere, but my last update when my blank transcripts populated happened to be on a Fri)
Wmr down? Ive been getting error messages
PEACE! refunders! I filed accepted 1/27, 1 bar WMR,waiting on path message,assume Fri cause usually weekly,fingers crossed for smooth and quick…VA still pending,any VA pathers get movement on state?
Still haven’t gotten accepted from irs.. if something is wrong why are they taking so long to reject it again.. UGGGHHH! The lady customer service at TT saying give it a few more hours and it should update smh
@OU812: You most likely won’t see an update to the WMR until tomorrow. Congratulations on the 846!
846 showed overnight with a 2/3/2025 date. No WMR movement and a cycle date of 2025/05/03.
Should I be worried with no WMR movement yet?
@Brandi: yep. Something is wrong with that part of the website.
filed on the 8th and accepted in test batch on the 15th. Path credits and WMR updated either this morning or yesterday with DDD of 02/17/2025. I paid fees upfront with TurboTax and opted in for the early 5 day refund. will I get it before 02/17/2025 since path doesn’t lift till the 15th? Cant check transcripts for codes so idk if I have any. i use Chime for banking and usually get my paycheck 3 days early at midnight and my refund is going to my chime. Michigan tax refund says still processing.
@Walter DOG: Thank you Walter DOG!