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.
@Rose661: Path freeze lifts the 15th so you may see a refund within the week following.
@Savethebees: exactly my case
@Amy19: Good morning hun. Thank you for stepping up yesterday and answering questions. It was very much appreciated.
@Zory: You’re going to receive the withholdings you paid in but not from the credits until they resolve the audit. When I was audited, it took about 3 months to resolve.
How long after receiving the path message do you usually get an update? I just updated to path message today. I do have the eic this year.
@Sheila_33: Good morning. Just checking in. Praying for you! Hope it is a good day
@Sheila_33: I’m going to receive any money before or this process? I have a refund in negative
@Zory: The 420 is an audit code. The 810 froze the refund and the 811 released the part of the refund that is your withholdings you paid in on your w2. You should receive a letter explaining the freeze and later receive a cp75 requesting proof for verification of the credits you claimed. Have everything ready to send in that provides the verification they’re requesting, and it might get resolved quickly.
Good morning,
I have a 810 code in my transcript and a 811 code for feb 13 same day technically and I have a 420 code on 01/27/23. What is that mean?
@Lace: You might check your return and see if you have any amounts on the path credit columns. This link can help you find the lines and explain better:
https://igotmyrefund.com/why-do-i-have-the-path-message-on-irs-wheres-my-refund/
I am not sure why I updated to the path mesege because I don’t have any of those credit all we have is the Ctc.
@Nikki: It looks like they’re behind with processing, as there are a few with that “still being processed”. Its possible that they just haven’t touched yours yet as the ones that can see their transcripts with that messaging are seeing n/as.Since you’ve been under an audit, you know that Wmr will have a code. And it you have path credits, that Wmr can show the path message and you can still have an audit code. Happened to me in 2018. If I hadn’t been able to see the transcripts I would never have known until path lifted. I think it’s a delay message, and hopefully they’ll get you processed this Thursday.
@Nikki: under review
I have a quick question. I filled on 1/31 with credits and was accepted about a hour later. Im a weekly and was expecting to see the path message but instead I got the “still being processed” message on wmr. I’m kinda freaking out, anxiety through the roof. if you’ve ever been through an audit then you know exactly how I feel. is there a chance that I’ll still update to path within the coming days? I would rather see the path message that still being processed😥
My refund was scheduled for 2/8 and I checked my account yesterday and it was in there! Short tax year for me! Good luck everyone on igmr
@Savethebees: yes pretty much have to wait until after 2/15 something like that.. last year my dd was 2/24
I updated to path message just now
@Yayyy: does this mean we have to wait if we updated to the PATH message?
Any PATHers got a DD yet or or a date? Had one bar yesterday and topic 152. As of 4am I have a the path message. No 846 on my transcrip but it has a date of 2-20-2022
Accepted*
WMR just updates to second bar and ddd of 2-8. Filed and accepted 1-23 with CTC.
WMR just updated to second bar and ddd of 2-8. Filed and excepted 1-23 with CTC.
I just upd@Yayyy: i just updated also, to the path message, and amount missing, 152
Just got a second bag on WMR. hoping I see my dd hit in the next hour hopefully
Had 1 bar at 1am It’s 3:40am in INDIANA just got PATH message on WMR.
@@highlyfavored23: weekly