If I e-filed and got accepted before Jan 27, am I in the first batch of IRS processing?
Hey tax folks! Just wondering about timing this year. If you efile and get accepted (not approved) before January 27th, does that mean you're in the first test batch? My sister filed on the 29th last year and got her refund way faster than I did when I filed on Feb 2nd. Seems like there's a big difference between the early filers and everyone else, but I'm not sure if that's actually how it works. Anyone know for sure?
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Max Knight
Based on my experience, the IRS does process returns in batches, but the "test batch" terminology isn't official. What happens is the IRS typically begins accepting returns in late January (Jan 22nd this year), but they don't begin PROCESSING most returns until a specific date (this year it was Jan 29th). If your return was accepted before the 27th, it was likely queued for processing with the first wave on the 29th. This doesn't guarantee faster processing though - my return was accepted on Jan 23rd and I'm STILL waiting while others who filed later already received their DD. The system is frustratingly inconsistent.
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Emma Swift
•Thanks for clearing this up! I was wondering about the exact same thing. My return was accepted on January 25th, and I've been checking WMR exactly 3 times per day since then. Still showing as processing after 42 days, which seems longer than the 21-day guideline the IRS mentions.
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Isabella Tucker
•So basically it's just a first-come-first-served queue? Ugh this is so confusing bc my BIL filed on Feb 2 and already got his refund but I filed on Jan 24 and still nothing. Makes no sense!
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Jayden Hill
•Thanks for explaining the difference between acceptance and processing. Did you claim any credits on your return? That might explain why you're still waiting while others got theirs faster.
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LordCommander
Did you claim any refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit? Those returns are subject to the PATH Act and legally cannot be released before mid-February regardless of when you filed. This creates a situation where early filers with these credits don't actually get processed faster.
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Lucy Lam
•This is an important point. According to IRS Publication 596, the PATH Act specifically requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming EITC and ACTC until February 15th at the earliest, regardless of filing date. Many taxpayers don't realize this distinction.
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Aidan Hudson
•Learned this the hard way last year! I filed January 24th with: • Earned Income Credit • Additional Child Tax Credit • Recovery Rebate Credit My return sat untouched until February 15th, then suddenly started moving. Got my deposit February 22nd. The PATH Act hold is very real!
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Zoe Wang
•I claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit this year and my transcript shows a 570 code. Does the PATH Act verification process create these holds automatically?
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Connor Richards
Thanks for the responses! I didn't claim any of those special credits, just a pretty standard return with some interest income and a small 1099. I guess I was just wondering if there's any advantage to filing super early like some people do. Sounds like it's kind of a mixed bag - might help, might not make any difference at all! 😅
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Grace Durand
According to the IRS website, filing early can help you get in line sooner, but doesn't guarantee faster processing. If you're really concerned about tracking your refund status, the IRS Where's My Refund tool updates once daily (usually overnight). I've found that calling the IRS directly can sometimes give you more specific information about delays, but getting through is nearly impossible these days. Last tax season I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an agent after trying for days on my own. They connected me in about 15 minutes and the agent confirmed my return was just in a normal processing queue despite being accepted early. Saved me a lot of worry!
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Steven Adams
Has anyone actually confirmed if the January 27th date was significant this year? I'm fascinated by how the IRS prioritizes returns! Did you notice any pattern with your processing compared to friends or family who filed at different times?
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Isabella Tucker
•My sister and I both filed on the same day (Jan 24) with almost identical situations and she got her refund last week while I'm still waiting. Makes ZERO sense!
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Jayden Hill
•I've noticed that returns with W-2 income only seem to process faster than those with self-employment or investment income, regardless of filing date. Has that been your experience too?
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Alice Fleming
Just to clarify what's happening with the 2024 tax filing season: The IRS officially began accepting returns on January 22nd, 2024. Any returns received before the processing date (January 29th this year) were held in a queue. Being in this early queue can sometimes mean faster processing, but it's not guaranteed. I filed on January 23rd and got my refund on February 12th, while my husband filed on February 1st and is still waiting. The system prioritizes different returns based on multiple factors beyond just submission date.
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