IRS Income Tax Refund Schedule for 2025

Income Tax | February 4, 2025

IRS Income Tax Refund Schedule for 2025

This chart can help you estimate when you should get your 2025 income tax return, based on when you file and a few other easy factors.

Isaac M. O'Bannon

Updated: Feb. 5, 2025.

The IRS started accepting income tax returns on January 27, 2025, which means tax filing season is officially upon us. And while most people say they hate doing their taxes, most Americans look forward to getting their tax refunds.

If you’re wondering how long it may take to get your refund when you finally submit your income tax return, you are one of many. For almost 15 years, the question we get the most often has been: “When will I get my tax refund?” Nobody can give you an exact answer, especially this far out, we can give you a pretty good estimate based on a few factors, and the 50-year collective experience of the CPA Practice Advisor team.

Right now, you want to know: “When can I expect to get my tax refund?” – Just scroll down if you want to see the easy chart refund date estimator.

First, keep in mind that you need to wait to file until you receive all of your tax forms from your employer, as well as colleges, mortgages and other documents. If you have complex finances, got married or divorced, had a child, retired, bought or sold a house, own crypto or foreign assets, those will make things more complex. In these situations, you should definitely seek the advice of a tax professional like a CPA or EA in order to make sure you are complying with tax laws and also taking advantage of new or lesser known tax deductions and credits that could benefit you.

But most Americans have pretty simple taxes: A job or two (form W-2), maybe a side gig (forms 1099 or 1099-NEC), some child tax credits, maybe a mortgage or a few minor additions. The chart below is for you.

w2-form-300x2001

Short Answer: Depending on when taxpayers file their returns, they can often receive their federal tax refund payment (check or direct deposit) within 10-21 days. If the IRS starts accepting returns at the end of January, as is usual, that means that someone who is able to file right away and are a due a refund, can often see the refund as early as mid- or late February if they have it direct deposited. That’s without an expensive “tax refund loan” or other similar product.

If you have multiple forms of income or certain assets, or certain family situations, you will likely have to wait a bit longer for all of your tax documents to come in before you are able to file. In particular taxpayers might have to wait a little longer if they have:

  • The Earned Income Tax Credit,
  • Child Tax Credit,
  • And a few other credits that require confirmation.

So, here’s the chart you were looking for. If the IRS announces any changes to tax law or potential date changes, we will update this chart. And remember: This is only an estimate of when to expect your refund.

Do not take these dates as exact predictions, as all taxpayers have different tax returns, documents, incomes, and other situations. Note that the first column is when the IRS “accepts” your return, which can be 2-3 days after the day you submitted it electronically, and the IRS will notify you of the actual date on which the agency “accepted” your return (usually by text or email). Mailing in a paper return can result in 3-4 weeks’ extra delay at the beginning of the process, since the IRS will need to enter it into their computer systems manually.

Estimated 2025 IRS Income Tax Return Chart

If the IRS Accepts an E-Filed Return By:Then Direct Deposit refund may be received as
early as 10 days after e-file accepted.
(E-filed, but paper check mailed apx. 1 week after that):
The IRS started accepting returns on Jan. 27, 2025.
Jan. 27, 2025Feb. 7 (Feb. 14)**
Feb. 3Feb. 14 (Feb. 21)**
Feb. 10Feb. 21 (Feb. 28)**
Feb. 17Feb. 28 (Mar. 7)**
Feb. 24Mar. 7 (Mar. 14)
Mar. 3Mar. 14 (Mar. 21)
Mar. 10Mar. 21 (Mar. 28)
Mar. 17Mar. 28 (Apr. 4)
Mar. 24***Apr. 4 (Apr. 11)***
Mar. 31***Apr. 11 (Apr. 18)***
Apr. 7 ***Apr. 18 (Apr. 25)***
Apr. 14***Apr. 25 (May 2)***

** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until March to verify credits.

*** = Filing during peak season (late March through April 15) can result in slightly longer waits.

IRS Accepts Return By:Direct Deposit Sent (Or Paper Check Mailed one week later)
Apr. 21May 2 (May 9)
Apr. 28May 9 (May 16)
May 5May 16 (May 23)
May 12May 23 (May 30)
May 19May 30 (June 6)

If your IRS income tax refund is delayed after you’ve filed, ask your tax professional, or simply use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website to check the status of your refund. Or you can download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status. It’s a good idea to e-file your tax return as soon as you have all of your tax documents (like your W2, 1099s, mortgage and student loan interest, and other items) as e-filing generally ensures a faster turnaround time.

Several factors can determine when a taxpayer might receive his or her tax refund, including:

  • How early the return is filed;
  • If the taxpayer is claiming certain credits (especially EITC and CTC);
  • Whether the return is e-filed or sent by mail;
  • Whether the taxpayer has existing debts to the federal government.

Be Safe – Hire a Professional

Taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for the estimated date of their tax refund, and they can be more confident that their taxes have been properly (and legally) filed. (And you can often save, or get a bigger refund, by using a professional.)

There are also apps for Apple, Android and other devices that help track refund status.

What If You Can’t File Your Income Taxes By April 15?

Any taxpayer who can’t file their return by April 15 for any reason (such as they don’t have all of the paperwork needed in order to file their taxes) can easily file an extension form, “Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.” (Link to IRS Form 4868.) Any tax pro can help you with this, as well. This will give the taxpayer until October 15, 2025, to file the federal tax return. No reason or excuse is needed to receive this extension, and as the title states, it is automatically granted. Be sure to check the extension rules for your particular state as the extension date may differ from the date for the federal return extension.

Note that if a person will owe taxes with the tax return, it is still that taxpayer’s obligation to pay those taxes by April 15, 2025, even if an extension to file has been requested. A tax professional can assist with this payment process. Those who are due a refund generally only need to file the extension request by April 15, 2025. Any tax professional and most do-it-yourself tax programs can perform this task.

Tax Refund Estimators:

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Comments: 13

William TiradoFebruary 4 2025 at 4:25 pm

Why does it take longer for the EIC and CTC returns take longer even if I got it in on Jan 28th????????

SheltonFebruary 4 2025 at 8:23 pm

Every year, I use Turbo Tax to file my federal and state taxes. To my surprise, the IRS accepted my return on January 17th, and my refund was issued by direct deposit on February 1st.

WendyFebruary 4 2025 at 10:00 pm

We got the email stating it will be closer to March before ours too because EIC and CTC. I'm still shocked too that our 17 yr old is still in high-school and we pay all her bills but we can't get EIC for her. But I guess it's their way.

Araceli carrascoFebruary 4 2025 at 10:08 pm

I need to make my taxes from 2021can l make at this time and l don’t know if l need to file extension

ANITA TKATCHFebruary 4 2025 at 10:19 pm

Because those credits have to be manually confirmed. It's real. Humans are slower than computers only. For what it's worth I have the delay also.

Theodore KellyFebruary 4 2025 at 11:19 pm

Why are there delays for certain "forms"... sucks there not prepared!

RyleeFebruary 4 2025 at 11:57 pm

Does me claiming a dependent, someone I took care of in 2024 that is not a child, have the same delay as an ETIC? It added $500 to my return but it's different than claiming a child. So i was just curious what to expect. Cashapp claims my federal and state refunds have both already been accepted.

Nicole TapiaFebruary 5 2025 at 1:10 am

Where I have been reading when Obama was in office he created a law that does not allow anyone that claims a child dependent eCI or other types of credits that cannot be released for federal return before the 15th of February to help out with security and fraud

Reginald D BoddieFebruary 5 2025 at 7:04 am

Good Morning just wanted feedback.On this thank u

Tisia GraysonFebruary 5 2025 at 10:51 am

My return was sent in on 1/27. It has been in Received Status since 1/28. How is my refund going to deposited by 2/7, when today is 2/5?

Stacey GordonFebruary 5 2025 at 12:07 pm

I need to know how to find out about my state tax refund.. haven't been getting any for the past 15yrs

Michael S JenkinsFebruary 5 2025 at 2:29 pm

Iv used the same place for a few years. An have getting back a couple thousand. An now there saying I'll only get 40 bucks back. Ain't that some grap. No need in filling then

Lisa MartinezFebruary 5 2025 at 3:37 pm

I e-filed on Jan 23rd and it was accepted. It still says my refund is only in the received part and I should be getting my refund on the 7th and today's the 5th and I've also been reading that it could be stuck in pending status since I filed prior to the 27th I don't know what to do at this point because nobody can give me answers

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