2025 IRS Refund Schedule: Jan 27 Start, 10 Days for Direct Deposit, 17 Days for Paper Checks (EITC/CTC Delays Until March)

Finally got the official 2025 refund schedule dates from my tax pro and wanted to share with everyone who's wondering when they might get their refund. The IRS starts accepting returns January 27th, 2025 this year. Here's the full schedule I received: ``` If the IRS Accepts an Then Direct Deposit E-Filed Return By: 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, 2025 Feb. 7 (Feb. 14)** Feb. 3 Feb. 14 (Feb. 21)** Feb. 10 Feb. 21 (Feb. 28)** Feb. 17 Feb. 28 (Mar. 7)** Feb. 24 Mar. 7 (Mar. 14) Mar. 3 Mar. 14 (Mar. 21) Mar. 10 Mar. 21 (Mar. 28) Mar. 17 Mar. 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. I noticed the pattern here is that direct deposits seem to come about 10 days after e-file acceptance, with paper checks taking about another week after that. For example, if your return is accepted on January 27th, you might see your direct deposit by February 7th, but if you're getting a paper check, it'll be more like February 14th. Has anyone already filed and received their refund based on this schedule? Are these dates actually accurate? My tax pro seemed pretty confident about these timeframes, but I know the IRS can sometimes have delays that aren't reflected in these official schedules. Also, has anyone dealt with the EITC or CTC delay before? Wondering how long those actually take in practice compared to the March estimate they're giving.

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QuantumQueen

This IRS refund schedule for 2025 follows a consistent pattern: direct deposits are processed approximately 10 days after e-file acceptance, while paper checks take an additional week. The earliest possible acceptance date is January 27, 2025, with potential refunds starting February 7 for direct deposit or February 14 for paper checks. The schedule is broken down into weekly intervals through April 14th, with each acceptance date having two corresponding refund dates. For example, if your return is accepted February 3rd, expect a direct deposit around February 14th or a paper check around February 21st. A crucial detail marked with asterisks (**) indicates that returns claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC) may face delays until March for mandatory credit verification. Additionally, returns accepted after March 24th (marked with ***) may experience longer processing times due to increased tax season volume. The 10-day processing window for direct deposits and additional 7-day window for paper checks remains consistent throughout the schedule, making it a reliable tool for estimating your refund timing. Keep in mind these are optimal timeframes assuming no additional review is needed for your return.

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