The 2025 tax season will start by the end of January 2025. Taxpayers must be prepared to file their taxes as soon as the tax season commences to avoid peak hours rush. The benefit of filing the taxes first is that it helps get a tax refund early by February.
Taxpayers should know that the tax refund payment date depends on many factors that could affect their refund pay date. Taxpayers can check the 2025 Tax refund schedule and other relevant details here.
2025 Tax Refund Schedule
The IRS 2025 tax season will begin soon in a few weeks, taxpayers should know when their tax refund will be processed to know the payment date. According to the IRS, the tax refund will be disbursed within 21 days if the tax return was filed electronically and taxpayers have selected direct deposit as the payment method.
The payment day of the IRS tax refund depends on how you have filed the federal income tax returns, what payment method you have selected for the tax refund, credits you have claimed, and when your tax return is accepted.
Based on these factors, taxpayers can expect the tax refund on the following schedule:
- When you e-filed the tax return and select direct deposit, you can expect the tax refund within one to three weeks of the tax return being accepted;
- When you file the tax return electronically and select physical check, they will receive the tax refund a month after the tax return is accepted;
- When you mail the federal tax return and select the direct deposit method, you can expect the tax refund within three weeks when the tax return is accepted;
- When you mail the tax return and select the physical check for the tax refund, you can expect the tax refund within two months of the tax return being accepted.
2025 Tax Refund Expected Payment Dates
Taxpayers can estimate the payment date based on the above-mentioned refund scheduled for the 2025 tax season depending on the period their tax return was accepted. Here are the 2025 Tax refund payment dates:
| Tax Return Accepted Period | Direct Deposit Pay Date | Paper Check Pay date |
| 29 Jan – 08 Feb 2025 | 10 Feb 2025 | 31 Feb 2025 |
| 09 Feb- 18 Feb 2025 | 29 Feb 2025 | 06 Mar 2025 |
| 19 Feb – 26 Feb 2025 | 03 Mar 2025 | 10 Mar 2025 |
| 27 Feb – 06 Mar 2025 | 10 Mar 2025 | 14 Mar 2025 |
| 07 Mar – 10 Mar 2025 | 14 Mar 2025 | 20 Mar 2025 |
| 11 Mar – 19 Mar 2025 | 21 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 |
| 20 Mar – 28 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 06 Apr 2025 |
| 29 Mar – 04 Apr 2025 | 06 Apr 2025 | 14 April 2025 |
| 05 Apr – 12 Apr 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 | 21 Apr 2025 |
| 13 Apr – 17 Apr 2025 | 21 Apr 2025 | 28 Apr 2025 |
Important Note:
- Taxpayers who have claimed credits like EITC or ACTC with their federal tax returns should know that their refund will be delayed till 15 Feb 2025 because as per the PATH Act, the IRS cannot process the refund till 15 Feb of the tax season.
- So, taxpayers with credit claims can expect their tax refund from 27 Feb 2025 (direct deposit), and by the first week of March 2025 (for paper check) when they file their tax return early.
Tips to Avoid IRS Tax Refund Delay
Taxpayers generally receive the tax refund on the pay date when their tax return is accepted, however, it can be delayed due to various reasons, such as bank account incorrect details, mailing address incorrect details, missing information from the tax return, PATH act obligation, and many others.
So, the IRS has also taken steps to avoid refund delays and taxpayers should also keep a few things in mind to prevent tax refund delays. Taxpayers can follow the below tips to avoid tax refund delays in 2025:
- You should check the bank account and other tax information carefully before filing the tax return to prevent missing information.
- If your bank account or some information changes, you should immediately inform the IRS and get your tax refund timely.
- You should get help from the IRS tools and services like IP PIN which the IRS introduced recently, where you can generate an IP PIN that will duplicate the dependent information from the previous year’s return and make the return review faster.
- You should opt for the direct deposit payment method for the tax refund to get their refund directly to their bank account.
- You should keep a copy of the tax return filed that will help in future tax returns or filing tax returns if you have opted for the amended return.
How to track the 2025 IRS Tax Refund?
Taxpayers can track their IRS tax refund status easily through the IRS tool Where’s My Refund which you can access anywhere either on the IRS official website or mobile app. The Where’s My Refund tool will let you know if your tax return is accepted, the refund is approved, or the refund is sent and you can estimate the tax refund payment date.
Taxpayers can check the tax refund status through the tool based on the time or conditions they have filed the tax return, such as:
- You can track the tax refund status in a day or two when they have filed the tax return electronically;
- You can track the tax refund status in four weeks when you have filed the tax return via mailed form;
- You can track the refund status of tax returns filed for prior years in three to four days.
What to do if you do not receive the tax refund on the scheduled date?
Taxpayers may miss their tax refund due to many reasons, so if you find your tax return accepted in the tax refund status but do not receive the refund on the expected payment date, you should follow the below instructions:
- You should contact your bank and ask them about the recent transaction and see if your account is active or not.
- You should use the IRS Where’s My Refund tool or call the IRS hotline number 800 829 1954 for refund to inquire about your tax refund.
The authority will respond to you with your tax refund query and assist you in solving your issue. Taxpayers should ensure their tax information is correct and valid to get their tax return accepted faster and receive tax refunds timely.