It seems weird to think that the end of the year is quickly approaching and that with each new year comes tax season. For many people, this is a stressful and uncertain time, so having as much information as possible is beneficial. Every year, some of the most commonly asked questions are, “When will I get my refund?” and “Where’s the IRS tax refund calendar?” And, given the complexity of taxes, these may appear to be difficult questions to answer. However, the tax system has developed significantly in recent years.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has spent the last few years making modifications to their operations in order to process returns more efficiently, and while some still require close examination, for the vast majority of people, the procedure is straightforward and fast. Now, with the IRS’s free e-file method, Direct File, you can receive your refund as soon as eight days after filing, especially if you select direct deposit.
Although eight days may appear to be overly ambitious, the figures speak for themselves: in 2024, the IRS issued refunds to nine out of ten taxpayers within 21 days of receiving their returns. There is no reason to expect that 2025 will be any different, especially given that Direct File will be offered to even more homes next tax season.
Filing taxes with the IRS in 2025
Although the official calendar has yet to be released, experts predict that the IRS will begin accepting e-filed tax returns around January 21, with the personal tax return due on April 15.
Of course, this is only for online submissions, whether through Direct File or any other online service provider. For individuals who choose to mail their returns, the schedule is slightly different. While you can lawfully mail your tax return as early as January 1, you will need to allow at least 12 weeks for processing. This is because someone will need to manually handle the return, and delays are usual when there is a high volume of returns.
Some people feel that filing early will help them earn refunds or credits sooner, but this is not always the case. This is not due to changes in the tax code but to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. Because of the Obana-era law, if your return includes the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the IRS must keep your whole refund until at least February 15, regardless of how early you file.
This rule is intended to prevent fraud by giving the IRS time to double-check that no duplicate returns were submitted and that refunds and rebates were issued to the correct recipients.
Another issue that taxpayers face is the timing of their refunds after filing and the extension of their filing deadline. Extensions are typically requested in more sophisticated files or ones with missing documentation, thus they may require further examination and hence take longer. This does not imply that it will always take a long time to process, but you should be prepared for future delays. The deadline for submitting your return after filing an extension is October 15, so if everything is proper and no more complications arise, you should receive your refunds 21 days later. If this is not the case, the IRS has a feature called “Get Refund Status” that allows you to track the progress of your refund.
