When exactly is 'mid-February' for IRS Path Act release dates?

For IRS purposes, mid-February specifically refers to around February 15th. This is especially important for PATH Act-affected returns (those claiming EITC or ACTC). The IRS legally cannot release these refunds before mid-February, and typically the first batch of these refunds hits bank accounts between Feb 15-17, with most people seeing deposits by Feb 28th.

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lol mid february is whenever the irs feels like it tbh 🤡

been filing taxes for 20 years and mid-february has always meant anywhere from feb 10 to march 1st. its not an exact science

The where's my refund tool is useless rn. Just says processing since January smh

I feel your frustration! Based on my experience, "mid-February" for PATH Act returns typically means February 15th is the earliest possible date, but most people see their refunds hit accounts between Feb 15-27. The IRS has to hold EITC and ACTC refunds by law until at least mid-February to prevent fraud. I'd recommend checking your transcript on the IRS website - it'll show your actual refund date (code 846) once it's scheduled. Hang in there, you should see movement soon!

Just to add some clarity - the IRS is required by the PATH Act to hold refunds that include Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least February 15th. This law was passed to give the IRS more time to verify these credits and reduce fraud. So "mid-February" legally means no earlier than the 15th, but your actual refund could come anytime after that depending on your bank and how quickly they process the deposit. Most direct deposits hit accounts within 1-3 business days after the IRS releases them.