The 2025 tax season would begin in January 2025, and the taxpayers planning to claim the EITC/ACTC credits with their tax returns would know that they will receive their refund under the PATH Act restrictions. Such taxpayers can check the expected refund schedule for 2025 here and mark the expected date to manage their expenses well.
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PATH Act 2025 Refund Dates
By the third week of January, the 2025 tax season would begin, the taxpayers would need to report their estimated tax and file their tax returns timely before the tax day, 15 April 2025. During the tax season, taxpayers usually wonder about their tax refund date.
The IRS usually pays the tax refund within 21 days of filing the return if you have filed electronically and chosen direct deposit or later if you have filed the tax returns through a paper check.
However, this scenario changes if they have claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit/ Additional Child Tax Credit due to the PATH Act.
The federal government has enacted the PATH Act under which the IRS is restricted from processing the refund of tax returns claiming Earned Income Tax Credit/ Additional Child Tax Credit to ensure that it is reviewed thoroughly and there is no scam or fraud.
Under the PATH Act, the agency cannot proceed with the tax refund for a return claiming EITC/ ACTC till 15 Feb 2025 even if they have filed their tax return early. So, the EITC/ ACTC claimants can expect a delay in their tax refund in comparison to regular tax refunds.
The PATH Act refund date may be different for taxpayers based on the payment method they have selected to receive the refund.
- 2025 IRS Tax Refund Schedule
Schedule of the PATH ACT 2025 Refund Dates
The IRS withheld the entire tax refund for the taxpayers claiming EITC/ACTC for tax year 2024 under the PATH Act restrictions till 15 Feb 2025, so the taxpayers can expect their payment after a week of the cut-off date into their account. However, the refund date can be different based on the direct deposit or paper check payment method.
The agency has determined the 2025 refund calendar, however based on the rules, taxpayers can expect their refund on the following dates:
Tax return Filing date | Direct Deposit | Paper Check |
Jan 2025 to 14 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2025 | 03 March 2025 |
15 Feb – 22 Feb 2025 | 03 Feb 2025 | 10 Mar 2025 |
23 Feb – 01 Mar 2025 | 10 Mar 2025 | 17 Ma 2025 |
02 Mar – 08 Mar 2025 | 17 Mar 2025 | 24 Mar 2025 |
09 Mar – 15 Mar 2025 | 24 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 |
16 Mar – 22 Mar 2025 | 31 Mar 2025 | 07 Apr 2025 |
23 Mar – 29 Mar 2025 | 07 Apr 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 |
30 Mar – 06 Apr 2025 | 14 Apr 2025 | 21 Apr 2025 |
07 Apr – 15 Apr 2025 | 21 April 2025 | 28 Apr 2025 |
In the disaster regions where the tax filing date is extended to 01 May 2025, the refund pay date will go on till June 2025. The taxpayers can calculate the expected refund date based on the above dates.
Reasons that can delay your PATH Act 2025 refund
Apart from being your return under the PATH Act, your tax refund can be delayed for several reasons, here are the following factors that can cause the delay in your tax refund:
- Your bank account is not active or you have entered the incorrect information
- Your income tax return has some errors which can take time to review or the IRS can ask for more information to approve the refund.
- Your local mailing service has delayed mailing the tax refund.
- You owe tax debt to the agency which can result in a tax refund delay or acquire your refund to repay the debate, however, in this condition, you will receive a notification from the IRS about covering your tax debt via your refund.
How can you track your PATH Act 2025 Refund?
The IRS allows taxpayers to track their refund through the fastest and easiest tool, Where’s My Refund tool, though there are other ways as well, such as by calling or visiting the local IRS office. However, it is believed Where’s My Refund tool is better and more convenient plus it tells the exact status shown in the IRS system.
So, taxpayers can use the tool online on the IRS official website or log into the IRS2Go mobile app to inquire about their refund status. The refund status shows if your return is reviewed, refund approved, and processed by the agency. Taxpayers who file tax returns electronically can check the refund status within 24 hours of filing, while taxpayers who opt for paper checks can check their status in a few weeks.
The taxpayers would need to enter the following information to check their refund status:
- Tax year
- Estimated tax refund
- Social Security number or Tax Identity Number
- Filing status
The taxpayers who have claimed the EITC/ACTC should wait till 15 Feb to check the refund processing status on the tool.
What should you do if your tax refund is missing?
The taxpayers who did not receive their tax refund on the estimated date should first check if there is any problem from their end, such as bank account and others. The taxpayers should trace their refund through the Where’s My Refund if it is processed it not or call 800 829 1954 or call the agent at 800 829 1040.\
The refund missing is rarely the case, however, in the case of paper checks it can happen as checks can be lost or damaged. The taxpayer’s case can request a replacement check from the agency when the original check is canceled and not cashed.
The PATH Act restricts the tax refund till 15 Feb 2025 for taxpayers who have claimed EITC/ACTC with their tax returns, so taxpayers can expect their tax refund by the end of Feb 2025 or early March 2025.