Taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit(ACTC) will update to the PATH Message
Once your tax return status goes from “We have received your tax return and it is being processed” to the PATH ACT message all this means is the system has recognized you have either EITC or ACTC credits that fall under the PATH ACT LAW which places a refund hold(C-Freeze) on your account until February 15th
What days should I check Wheres My Refund? if I have not received the PATH Message yet?
Taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit(ACTC) could update to the PATH Message either on Wednesday or Saturday mornings.
Anyone that files a tax return before February 15, that is owed a tax refund and if you’re claiming either the ACTC or EITC, your entire refund will be withheld until at least the February 15 every year. This delay allows the IRS time to match information from individual tax returns with information on the W-2 forms from employers, which are sent to the IRS by January 31, as a way of preventing identify theft and fraud
What if I never received the PATH message but I claimed the credits?
The IRS processes tax returns in batches so some tax returns may stay at one bar and may not get an update to the PATH Message before February 15th. If you never receive the PATH message and you are claiming EITC/ACTC credits. Those refunds will be issued after your return completes processing, provided you owe no other liability.
The delay applies to all methods of tax filing – No one can provide your refund to you before February 15. There are no exceptions.
Does the PATH Message mean my tax refund is done processing and approved?
No, The PATH message does not mean your tax return is done and your tax refund is approved. It simply means the computer system has identified you are claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit(ACTC) on your tax return.
The Where’s My Refund? tool uses the PATH Message as a placeholder for all tax returns that have claimed Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit(ACTC) until February 15. Once the PATH LAW lifts on February 16 your personalized refund status will return to the Where’s My Refund? tool and will update accordingly.
Anybody that files an early tax return, claiming either the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, those tax returns will be processed as soon as you file them, but any refund that would be due for those returns claiming those two credits will be delayed, the IRS will not release those refunds until after February 15th.
Does PATH mean my refund is approved?
No, The IRS by law cannot approve and/or distribute any tax refunds claiming EITC/ACTC credits before February 15th each year. So the PATH message does not mean you are approved for a refund. It simply mean you are a step closer to getting a refund. Nobody has ever received a refund with the EITC/ACTC credits while the PATH message was showing as their personalized refund status.
After the PATH Message lifts and I return back to processing when will I see an update or direct deposit date?
If you are claiming EITC or ACTC Credits and will be affected by the PATH LAW. All returns claiming the two mentioned credits above will be held under a C-Freeze. When your return is held under a C-Freeze this forces the tax return to update only on a weekly cycle. Everyone with the PATH message whether they follow Daily or Weekly cycles and have a cycle code ending in 01, 02, 03, 04, or 05 will see WMR updates only on Saturdays. When a Refund Freeze is placed on the account the computer forces the account to post updates on Where’s My Refund(WMR) only on Saturday mornings.
This is an example of an Account Transcript waiting for an 846 code to post after February 15 with PATH ACT message
This account transcript verifies that you have been accepted and are processing and you will not have a confirmation of your status until after February 15th. If more information is needed the IRS will send you a letter or you can view your transcript online to see further codes after February 15th.
If you transcripts look like this you should not have anything to worry about!
Remember: Until your Explanation of Transaction list shows an 846 Refund Issued code you are not approved or guaranteed your refund on any certain date.
Remember some taxpayers with the PATH message could have addition codes showing on their account transcript which could cause you further delays in receiving your refund.
Does the PATH Message mean my tax refund is done processing?
No — the PATH Act message does not mean your refund is done processing or officially approved.
What it does mean is:
✅ The IRS has received and accepted your return
✅ Your refund is still in the processing system
✅ If you claimed EITC or ACTC, the IRS is required to hold refunds until after February 15
At this stage, the PATH message is simply confirming that your return is in progress — not that your refund is guaranteed or fully cleared.
When will you actually know your refund status?
You’ll only get real confirmation when one of these happens:
A. The IRS begins updating refunds after February 15
B. You receive an IRS notice or letter requesting more information
C. Your refund deposit actually posts to your bank account
A quick reminder about speculation
Every year, there’s a lot of confusion around the PATH message. Some taxpayers assume it automatically means “approved,” but that isn’t always true.
We’ve seen cases where people received the PATH message and later experienced:
So the best approach is to stay patient, monitor your transcripts if available, and wait for official IRS movement after mid-February.
Until then, the PATH message is simply a holding status — not a final refund approval.
As far as transcripts are concerned:
Seeing transcripts does not mean your refund is approved. It only means your return has entered IRS processing.
What transcript access actually tells you
- If you can view or order an Account Transcript, your return has been received and is being processed — nothing more.
- Your refund is NOT approved until your Account Transcript shows code 846 – “Refund Issued” (usually near the bottom).
- Until code 846 appears, your refund amount, timing, and outcome can still change.
Account Transcript vs. Return Transcript
- Return Transcript
This is simply a snapshot of what you filed on your tax return. It does not show IRS actions or approval status. - Account Transcript
This is the important one. It shows IRS activity on your account and updates over time as your return moves through processing, reviews, holds, or refund scheduling.
What the cycle code means
- The cycle code on your Account Transcript is an internal IRS processing marker.
- In plain terms, it reflects when your return entered the IRS system, not when your refund will be paid.
- It does not guarantee approval or a deposit date.
About refund dates and transcripts
Officially, the Internal Revenue Service says it does not provide refund deposit dates in advance.
In practice, however, many experienced filers know that when code 846 posts on the transcript, the refund date shown is typically reliable — in 2026, just like prior years.
What to expect next in 2026
- Where’s My Refund is expected to begin showing PATH-related updates around February 21, 2026
- Direct deposits may not start appearing until late February or the first week of March
- If you don’t see movement right away — do not panic. Staggered updates are normal.
Important reminder
- The IRS will NOT call you
- The IRS will NOT email or text you
- Any required contact will come by U.S. Postal mail only
Until you see code 846, everything else is just processing in progress. Stay patient, monitor transcripts responsibly, and avoid speculation.
2026 Refund Timing Reminder
Keep in mind — it is completely possible to receive your refund before the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool even updates.
This happens more often than people realize, especially during peak processing weeks when deposits begin posting faster than the website refreshes.
If you paid filing fees out of your refund
If you chose to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund, your deposit may take an extra step.
For example, TurboTax commonly uses Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (SBTPG) to handle fee deductions. In that situation, your refund may be routed like this:
IRS → SBTPG → Your Bank Account
You can check the status of your funds as they pass through the fee processor by logging into the SBTPG refund tracker online.
Why PATH season feels stressful every year
Ever since the PATH Act began affecting refunds with EITC and ACTC holds, the weeks leading up to February 15 have become one of the most stressful parts of tax season.
A big reason for that stress is the amount of misinformation and speculation that spreads online during this period.
The most important thing to remember is:
- PATH holds are normal
- Delays before mid-February are expected
- Real updates come after the legal release window opens
Everything shared here is based on verifiable IRS guidance and public IRS publications.
If you ever feel unsure about something you hear online, take a moment to double-check it using official IRS sources or trusted tax resources.
Stay patient — the real movement for PATH refunds begins later in February and into early March 2026.
