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.
Dr S@Monee: you do get that message if you got to id verify but you also get it when you been requenced sorry cain’t spell that word but it’s early to be requenced I’m thinking maybe id verify but it could very well be the other
I was accepted 1/17, got a blank transcript on 1/23 with “is being processed ” and tax topic 152. Nothing new as of ten minutes ago. If there are no changes by Friday, I’m going to assume I’m stuck somewhere. I file early every year and regret it every year. It’s like a sickness. Lol
@Walter DOG: yes. My message is “still being processed” with no tt152
@Stephennotsignedin: I have the still being processed message too. No tax topic but all other info showing. I’m not checking my transcripts Friday until someone else in the same boat checks theirs and says everything is OK. Lol
@Monee: what does your wmr say and does your have tax topic 152 mine says still being processed and a refund date will be provided when available no tax topic. I was accepted the 17th then on the 24th I got blank trans with zeros then the 25th I woke up to that msg on wmr and here I am waiting for next update lol this Friday. Fingers crossed I update. Last year I got notification saying I needed id verify but nothing this year so far just the still being processed msg with no tax topic
@Monee: that message means so far you don’t have to id verify but it can take a week to get in the system so if your transcript doesn’t populate by Friday morning try that again next week has your wmr message changed from being processed with tax topic 152
@Stephennotsignedin: I’m a weekly. I’m not sure when it showed up or when it left bc I wasn’t paying it any mind. I just know I kept scrolling past it. It was this year. End of last week/weekend if I’m not mistaken bc i was scrolling past to get to transcripts when I saw it. Also, tried what you said and it says, “We are not able to provide assistance to you via the identity verification tool.”
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: stalk away, I’ll keep you update if I show movement.
@Monee: go to Google type in irs id verify and hit the first link that takes u to IRS and then log in and see if it lets you go to the first step to verify if it don’t then u probably don’t got to. I remember last year I had the msg on irs account just like u and I went in to my local IRS and verified in person and about a week later bc I’m a weekly my msg went away on my IRS account and my transcript has updated. What day did u first notice it on there and also are u daily.
Still not accepted or rejected… today makes 48 hours….. idk what to do
@Monee: I seen that msg this year in ur IRS account or are you talking about last years
@Ms. O: Hi can you tell me what your codes are trying to make sure mines are good thankyou.
I filed on the 10th and was excepted on the 16th. I have always been a weekly but this year I turned daily. My transcripts are all populated and showing good codes. Just waiting for the path lift now. Filed with freetax.com
I just remembered that at some point I had a “verify your tax return” message on irs.gov. I kept scrolling past it because I didn’t know what it was. It was under notifications and I didn’t think it mattered. It’s not there anymore, but I don’t know how long it has been gone. At least since Monday or Tuesday. I didn’t start paying attention to notifications until then. Now that I remember that detail, I’m almost positive I will have to verify myself or something on my return. So now I guess I just wait for a letter or for the message to reappear.
@Jocelynn: well I’ll stalk you this year to see. I just have a feeling since last year after I ID verified my cycle code ended in 05 I have a feeling this year will stay the same.
@Pink Beauty: I’m sooo tempted to file but I’m trying to wait until Feb 3rd..
Last year I filed Feb 1st around 10AM and got my return on the 16th. (pather).
@Pink Beauty: same!! Idk what’s going on with TT
I wonder if the IRS having any issues cause it should be more people accepted and transcripts updated than what I’ve been seeing.
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: I was daily prior to last year, my transcript update to a blank one on Thursday morning last week, so I’m wondering if I bounced back to a daily, but until I see the cycle code, I can’t guarantee.. lol
I have been pending over 48 hours now.. I’ve always been accepted with TT and it’s advance the same day and night! But I normally file February 2 this is my first time filing Jan 27 the first day!
@VA757pather: That’s what I been thinking as well. Fingers crossed.
@DeeBlock: ok thank you. Just trying to find a pattern for the “still processing” message vs the normal message.
@DeeBlock: u should update friday
Not sure if this will help anyone, but I checked my forum comments from last year, and my bank account. I update on Friday mornings, and last year the Friday that I updated with my codes and A DDD I received the refund on that day, even though my DDD wasn’t until the following week ( I should add, I always get my DD added to my Venmo Debit Card, because I always get it super fast that way – Bank of America tends to hold it until the day of for me ) … this gave me some hope that I should see at least a transcript update tomorrow night into Friday morning and MAYBE a DD suprise in my account ( I only have a W2, no kids, no PATH, nothing else – just W2)
@Monee: Yes it’s the normal generic message. You’re refund is being processed with tax topic 152.
@Ineedmy$$now: once they’ve transmitted it, I don’t think you can
@Mrs. P(not signed in): if I’m not mistaken yes.. and hopefully something changes by end of day. If not I’m going to give it until end of tomorrow and something should change. I wonder if I can file again with TT?
@DeeBlock: do you mind telling me your wording on wmr? Is it the normal message with tt152?
@Ineedmy$$now: so they ain’t got it yet. Are there any other tax companies that offer advance you could try to file with? Or give it another day to see if irs accepts it.