Estimate your arrival window. Understand the wait.
Oct 13 – Oct 22, 2026
Direct deposit. An estimate, never a guarantee.
See how the window is builtThe IRS publishes guidance, not a payment schedule. Our assumptions are always visible.
Know what you are looking at before deciding what to do.
An account entry is a clue. It needs the full context.
Received, approved and sent are different steps.
Read your refund messageYour state processes its own return.
Estimated windows by the week your return is accepted.
| Accepted during | Direct deposit estimate |
|---|---|
| Jan 25 – Jan 31 | Feb 4 – Feb 22 |
| Feb 1 – Feb 7 | Feb 11 – Mar 1 |
| Feb 8 – Feb 14 | Feb 18 – Mar 8 |
| Feb 15 – Feb 21 | Feb 25 – Mar 15 |
| Feb 22 – Feb 28 | Mar 4 – Mar 22 |
The tool provides a planning window. Your actual status and any approved payment date come from the official IRS tracker.
For e-file, use IRS acceptance rather than the date you started or submitted the return. For paper filing, use the date the IRS received it if known.
Each state processes its own return. Use the state guide and official tracker separately from a federal estimate.
A next-season chart uses labelled calendar assumptions until the IRS announces its opening and applicable PATH guidance. It does not establish a payment promise.
Guidance checked 2026-10-01. Source register · Calculation assumptions · Refund estimator
Your actual status comes from the IRS.
We help make the next step clearer.