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.
@Jocelynn: Hi cycle code is 0405 my as of date went from Feb 10 2025 to Feb 17 2025 don’t understand I updated last Friday I have codes 150 766 768 4-15-2025 -×××× next to all the codes any information I appreciate thanks.
@Monee: I’ll let you know when I check mine later tonight fingers crossed and prayer spoken
@Monee: mine shows my social and filling status and expected refund amount
Question: do yals socials show on wmr wit your refund status?
State accepted 1/27, this morning said refund issued wait a week nice! Fast!
@Stephennotsignedin: I’m not checking mine until you check yours.
@Txmomof3girlsnotsignedin: well boooooo on the IRS for no update on your end. Still got my fingers crossed you see some movement tonight.
@All you need is love.: my as of date is Feb 10. My return due date is 4/15. And my processing date under that is 2/17. What is your cycle date? If you updated tonight you are most likely a daily and not a weekly.
@Monee: nope. Not me hun. I think you’re thinking of the wrong person. 😊
@Monee: tonight is the night we find out if we get codes added lol I’ll be up tonight around midnight till I see people say they updated 😂
Updated tonight. Last year i was an 05, this year an 04. No path with a DDD of 2/3. Took 2 weeks from acceptance to process. Test batch accepted 1/17.
Now I have to amend. I’ve never done that before. This should be fun. Good luck everyone!
Yal done broke wmr. Lol. It’s ok. I didn’t need that negative energy this morning anyway.
@JocelynTexasMarie: did you have an offset that year or was there some sort of error?
@Jocelynn: sorry if I’m remembering wrong. Did you get the still processing message saturday?
@Jocelynn: I just checked and nothing for me. I really don’t expect any movement until next week though but hopeful for this week still.
@WA State girl 22: that’s what I thought but she says no it’s her refund. (Correction she filled last Wednesday)
Correction she did her taxes last Wednesday night.
@Goldizzle: yes her son.
@All you need is love.: mine
@All you need is love.: @All you need is love.:
@Jocelynn: Hi can you tell me your as of date my says as of date on top twice February 17, 2025 and at the bottom all good codes with 4-15-2025 next to – xxxx and under neath it February 10, 2025 with underneath that 4-15-2025 im a weekly how did that populate I’m not supposed to populate again I thought until friday morning any information you can tell me thanks.
@GrandRiver7: thank you so much this is the message I have been scouring for!!!
@JennyB: does she babe kids on her return?
So quick update. As I said earlier this week that I didn’t add my form 1095A because it came later than my daughters and didn’t know I had one coming. I was told that I wouldn’t process until they requested the form from me. Well my transcripts are filled in completely with all good codes but the 846 due to me being a pather. Cycle is 04 this year last year it was 03. I pray no bad codes generate and I’m just able to amend and add that form