Why Most Taxpayers Are Weekly Filers and Only See Transcript Updates Late Thursday or Early Friday

Every tax season, millions of filers anxiously refresh their IRS transcripts looking for updates. But what many people don’t realize is that the IRS processes returns on different schedules—Daily and Weekly. And the majority of taxpayers fall into the Weekly group, identified by the cycle code ending in “05”.

If your transcript shows a cycle code such as 20260505, 20260605, or 20260705, this means you are part of the weekly batch. Weekly processing has its own timing rules, its own update window, and its own impact on when your refund can be released.

This guide explains exactly what Cycle Code 05 means, when your transcript updates, and how it determines your refund date.

What Is an IRS Cycle Code?

Your IRS cycle code appears on your Account Transcript, usually in the top section, as a long number formatted like:

YYYYWWDD

It breaks down as:

• YYYY = tax processing year
• WW = processing week
• DD = processing day within that week

The last two digits—DD—tell you whether you are processed Daily or Weekly.

• 01, 02, 03, 04 = Daily accounts
• 05 = Weekly accounts

If your cycle code ends in 05, you are in the Weekly processing cycle.

What Does Cycle Code “05” Mean?

Cycle Code 05 means your return is processed in the weekly batch, not daily.

For weekly accounts:

• The IRS updates your transcript one time per week
• The update typically occurs late Thursday night into early Friday morning
• All major transcript changes, including refund approval, happen during this window

If you check your transcript on Tuesday or Wednesday and nothing has changed, this is normal. Weekly accounts simply do not update during those days.

Why the IRS Uses Weekly Processing for Most Returns

Most taxpayers fall into the weekly category because weekly processing allows the IRS to:

• Complete additional fraud checks
• Review higher-risk returns
• Validate dependents and income reporting
• Run automated matching systems
• Perform internal “filters” for refundable credits

Weekly accounts are not bad—they are simply part of the IRS workflow.

When Your Transcript Will Actually Update

For a Cycle Code 05 filer:

Official transcript update window:
Late Thursday night through early Friday morning

This is when you will see:

• Code 150 (Return Filed)
• Code 570 (Hold)
• Code 571/572 (Hold Released)
• Code 846 (Refund Issued)
• Adjustments like 766/768 credits
• Any new notices such as TC 971

Checking outside this window rarely shows new activity.

What Cycle Code 05 Means for Refund Timing

Because weekly filers only update once per week:

• Your refund cannot be approved mid-week
• Your refund cannot be released mid-week
• Your transcript will not show progress until the Thursday/Friday batch
• WMR often updates on Saturday mornings for weekly accounts

This means:

1. Refund Approval

If your hold clears, TC 571 or TC 572 usually posts during the Thursday/Friday update.

2. Refund Release

TC 846 will appear during the same weekly update cycle.

3. Direct Deposit

Most deposits land the following week, depending on banking schedules.

Examples of Weekly Transcript Movement

Let’s look at a typical timeline for a Cycle 05 filer:

• Thursday/Friday: Transcript updates
• Saturday: WMR updates to “Refund Approved” or “Refund Sent”
• Monday–Wednesday: Direct deposit hits the bank

If you do not see movement on Thursday/Friday, your case likely rolls into the next week’s cycle.

Why Weekly Filers See Longer Waiting Periods

Compared to daily accounts:

• Weekly filers always wait for the next Thursday/Friday to see changes
• Any hold (TC 570) may push progress back by another week
• Clearance codes (571/572) also only appear during weekly cycles

A one-day IRS review for a daily account becomes a 7-day delay for a weekly account.

This is why cycle codes matter.

How to Know Whether You Are a Weekly Filer (Without Guessing)

Check your transcript for:

Cycle Code ending in 05
Example: 20260705

Or check your transcript update behavior:

• If you only see updates once a week
• If WMR moves on Saturdays, not mid-week
• If your codes always change on Fridays

These are clear signs that you are weekly.

Common Myths About Cycle Code 05

“Weekly filers get lower refunds.”

False. Refund amounts do not depend on cycle codes.

“Weekly filers are under audit.”

False. Cycle code is not an audit indicator.

“Cycle 05 means something is wrong.”

False. It simply reflects how the IRS scheduled your account.

If your IRS transcript cycle code ends in 05, you are a Weekly Filer, and your entire refund timeline revolves around one weekly update:

Late Thursday night into early Friday morning

This is when:

• Refund holds are released
• Adjustments are posted
• Refunds are approved
• TC 846 appears
• WMR updates for weekly filers

Understanding your cycle code eliminates the guesswork and helps you predict the exact window when your refund is most likely to move.