The IRS has announced that they will start accepting the federal income tax returns for the 2024 tax year from 27 Jan 2025. Before the agency starts accepting the tax returns from the actual date, the agency launches a controlled period to test the e-file system.
The controlled period to test the e-file system is popularly known as the IRS Hub testing. The hub testing is held every year before the tax season officially begins. People wondering about the IRS Hub Testing for the 2025 tax season can check every delta here.
IRS Hub Testing 2025
The IRS launched the Hub testing period to check whether the e-filing system is functioning properly to ensure taxpayers don’t face any issues during the tax season and if there are any issues the agency can look through it before the official tax season begins.
The agency strives to make the system better for the taxpayers that’s why the agency even shut down the system before the tax season to prepare for the tax season.
As we said, it is the controlled period that tests the electronically filed tax return system, the hub testing the agency receives the limited tax returns, reviews them, and processes them to check the system. Hence, sometimes the tax returns are accepted early before the official tax season begins.
Generally, the agency launches the hub testing period a week or two before the official tax season begins. This year, the IRS is expected to start the Hub testing period from 21 Jan 2025 (Tuesday) till 24 Jan 2025 (Friday), as the tax season will begin on Monday.
| IRS Hub testing Timeline | 21 Jan to 24 Jan 2025 |
| IRS tax season | 27 Jan 2025 |
Who will participate in the IRS Hub testing in 2025?
According to the IRS, only limited tax returns are involved during the hub testing to test the e-filing system, hence only the following people can take part in the hub testing:
- Selected taxpayers who were selected for e-filed tax return testing;
- The agency selects the tax software providers to file the e-file tax return;
- The agency selects the approved tax professionals who filed their certain client tax returns during the hub testing;
- The agency allows certain IRS financial institutions to collaborate with IRS and software tool providers.
How does the IRS Hub testing Work?
During the IRS Hub testing, the IRS accepts tax returns from selective taxpayers/ tax professionals through approved software providers. The agency runs the tax returns and processes the electronic process to test if the system is working properly.
The agency processes the tax return with the same process planned for the upcoming tax season, the agency attached the feedback option to collect the filer’s feedback and identify any issues to resolve them timely before the season officially begins on 27 Jan 2025.
The agency does not specify how many sets of tax returns they will select to test the system, however, when the process begins some returns may get accepted but the returns submitted early will wait for the official tax season to begin officially to move forward to the next step.
How will you know if your tax return is processed through IRS Hub Testing?
The taxpayers can know if their tax return is accepted in the IRS hub testing through the IRS refund status. You can check the IRS refund status through the Where’s My Refund tool on the official website or through the IRS2Go app on your phone.
When you check the Refund status by entering the following information, such as tax year, tax filing status, Social Security number, and refund amount. If your refund status shows that the IRS has received the tax return and it is now being processed.
The refund status shows the return received status in the first stage. In the hub testing the tax returns that will be processed are for the 2024 tax year only, so you can check the tax refund status within 24 or 48 hours of e-filing the tax return through the approved software provider during the hub testing timeline.
Will the IRS tax refund process be faster if the return is filed during the Hub testing?
If the tax return is received by the agency during the IRS hub testing, it will be processed, however, the return acceptance and refund process will be held till the official tax season begins. So, the tax refund will be issued based on the same timeline, as you have filed the tax return on the tax season’s official starting date.
The IRS will issue the tax refund within one or three weeks of the tax return being accepted if you have selected the direct deposit as your payment method. However, the taxpayers should know the tax return with EITC/ ACTC claims will be delayed till 15 Feb 2025.
The tax credits EITC/ ACTC will be on hold till 15 Feb under the PATH Act to ensure the IRS has reviewed the return carefully and to avoid any fraudulent claims of the credits to reduce the tax bill and increase the tax refund. The taxpayers should know that just like the IRS Free file early tax returns, the hub testing returns will be in queue till the official tax season starting date.
The IRS Hub testing is a great attempt of the agency to ensure the e-filing system is working fine and validate that it is secure, efficient, and accurate for the upcoming tax season tax return processing.