The Timeline for Refund Status Updates

If you’ve recently filed your tax return, you may find yourself obsessively refreshing the Where’s My Refund? (WMR) tool for updates. However, the tool only updates once every 24 hours—and there’s a good reason for this. Let’s break it down so you know what to expect when checking your refund status.

IRS Processing Schedule

The IRS system is designed to accept and process tax returns Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. Once a return is submitted, the system batches and processes updates overnight, with new information becoming available by the following day. This overnight processing ensures accuracy and allows the IRS to handle the millions of returns it receives during tax season efficiently.

Since the Where’s My Refund? tool is directly tied to this system, it can only reflect updates after the IRS has completed its nightly processing cycle.

When Should You Check?

The WMR tool updates once every 24 hours, typically overnight. This means there’s no need to check multiple times a day. Instead, make it a habit to check your status once daily, preferably in the morning, after the system has had time to refresh.

Tax Return Acceptance Updates

When you file your tax return, the first thing you’re looking for is the IRS’s acceptance of your return. Acceptance updates usually occur Monday through Friday during regular IRS business hours. If you file your return over the weekend or on a holiday, it will likely be processed on the next business day.

Changes to your Tax Refund Status After Acceptance

Once your tax return is accepted, updates to your refund status will depend on your account’s processing cycle: daily or weekly.

• Daily Accounts: If your account follows a daily processing cycle, any changes to your refund status will appear on Wednesday mornings.

• Weekly Accounts: The majority of taxpayers fall into this category. Updates for weekly processing accounts occur on Saturday mornings.

Why Weekly Processing Is Common

Weekly processing is the standard for most tax accounts. This means the IRS updates your account only once a week, usually on Saturday mornings. If you’re checking for status changes midweek, you may not see any progress until Saturday—and that’s completely normal!

What to Keep in Mind

• If you’ve claimed certain credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), your refund will be held until at least February 15th due to the PATH Act (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act).
• Check Dail, Not Hourly: The WMR tool refreshes once every 24 hours, so there’s no benefit to checking multiple times in a day.
• Know Your Processing Cycle: Understand whether your account follows a daily or weekly processing schedule to set realistic expectations for updates.
• Be Patient: Tax processing takes time. If you’ve filed accurately and have no red flags, your status will update according to the IRS’s schedule.

By understanding the IRS’s processing routines, you can avoid unnecessary frustration and focus on other things while waiting for your refund. Patience pays off, and soon enough, you’ll see that long-awaited deposit date!