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.
@G: path lift is on the 15th, but with it being on the weekend and Monday being a holiday nothing will happen until Tuesday.
@BMOREMOMOF3ANDAHALF: form 8812, included in your tax forms after filing, if you have the CTC and/or ACTC it will show there. Sorry I just saw this question.
Filed 1-27/2024 accepted same day no transcript update wmr tax topic 152 been weeklies, path. When are they releasing path? Got an email march 7, true??
@Dentonj88: I have not. Checked this morning and nada. Hoping for some good positivity tomorrow.
@BMOREMOMOF3ANDAHALF: sorry, meant to hit reply…read my comment. Line 19 is CTC
Look on page 2 of your 1040 line 28 if there is an amount, you have ACTC
@BMOREMOMOF3ANDAHALF: Yeah that 5 days in advance is bs alot of people on all types of fourms said they never got it in 5 days I’ve been reading because I signed up for it too and when path lifts my refund is going to cross river bank too I use to deal with sbtpg every year turbotax trick people for real.
@All you need is love.: good to know. I did the 5 days early too. Just to try it out.
@Jocelynn: how do I know if I have ACTC or just CTC?
Anyone from Maryland? My state taxes was accepted on 1/24/2025. The website says 3 business days to process. So today would have been the 4th business day. Anyone have the same issue
@Dentonj88: not a single crawl
@Jocelynn: I think I did smh
@Dentonj88: Still waiting here. Must have gone back to weekly this year. Sigh.
@All you need is love.: you’re welcome! 😊
@Jennyb: you are correct. The path hold only affects those who claim the EIC and/or the ACTC. A return with just the CTC will not get held up by it.
@Tullie44: did you click on the letter of non filer in your transcripts? A lot of people seem to be getting mail from the IRS after doing that.
@Dentonj88: no she didn’t get an advance. The only thing I can think of is that path is only for earned income credit or ACTC not sure hoping someone can answer this. Me and my other sister that have 2 children always have to wait with PATH.
@Dentonj88: still blank . hoping for an update tomorrow morning.
Still waiting to be accepted or rejected! TT got until 12pm! So serious! This is ridiculous. I seen some other people that are in the same boat..what should I do
@MassageMama: in my experience with Santa Barbara…my stuff never shows up until the day of my DDD.
Good morning!! The wait is on. Let’s see how long that path is this year.
Hello fellow blank transcript havers with an as of date of 2/10🥹 Any of yall see movement/updates yet?
@JennyB: really? It was the refund, not a refund advance?
@Monee: No offset. I avoid owing anyone. Lol. It was due to the tax company that I went through. A newbie was unable to calculate basic math on my 2 W2 forms. So it had to be corrected via IRS.
it seems as if the IRS has updated their phone system and the old method of trying to speak to an agent no longer works. halfway through the procedure, a new AI voice starts talking and essentially blocks you from transferring to an agent without you giving exact specific details on what you are calling about and then even when you do, you are told no agents are available and the call is disconnected. has anyone figured out the way around this yet? it used to be 2,1,3,2, silence twice, then 2,3.
@MassageMama: Hi did you do the five days for 25 dollars if so your money is going to cross river bank that’s intuit 3rd party for the 5 days early that came out of your refund it won’t go to sbtpg if you did the 5 days early through turbotax.
Hello everyone my transcripts populated but no 846 code I have cycle code 20250504 can anyone tell me what day I’ll process?
Trans updated was cycle 05 last 2 years now I’m 04.
Gm everyone, I was accepted b4 the irs opened my account transcripts are zero, return transcripts say letter of non filer and wmr says we’ve received your return and it’s being processed but I see a piece of mail coming to me today from them and im nervous because I have never ever received mail from them…anyone else get mail from them?
Still waiting to be accepted or rejected! TT got until 12pm! So serious! This is ridiculous. I seen some other people that are in the same boat..ughhhhh
I have a ddd of 1/31, but as of this morning SBTPG has no record. That’s really strange. Anyone else have this issue?
@Jocelynn: Thankyou sp much
@Monee when I check my wmr online through chrome it has my filling year,refund amount,and filling status but when I check the wmr app it has my social,filling status,and when I go to my IRS account and look at refund status it has my tax year filling status and refund amount.
Hello all. I filed with TT having fees taken out. Filed on 1/16 .. accepted on 1/17 … transcript finished with 846 code this morning showing DD 2/5 … going to Chime … was path last few years .. not this year