PATH Act Refund Delays: When to Expect Your EITC or ACTC Tax Refund in 2025

Mark Steber

Chief Tax Information Officer

Published on: January 28, 2025

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Where is my refund? If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the PATH Act will delay it. Here’s what you need to know.

Key Takeaways

The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act requires the IRS to hold refunds for taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until after February 14, in order to prevent tax fraud.
The IRS will update its website and app on February 17, 2025, with refund updates for early filers who claimed the EITC or ACTC.
PATH funding will be done in two batches, on February 19 and February 20, 2025.
Most of the time, the IRS will fund tax refunds within 21 days, but does not guarantee a certain date.
The IRS will lift the PATH Act holding requirement on February 17, 2025, and fund most refunds of taxpayers claiming either the EITC or ACTC by February 28, 2025.
You don’t have to wait for the IRS to get money. File with Jackson Hewitt and apply for a No Fee Tax Refund Advance loan,¹ and you could get money the same day if approved on a prepaid card.²

If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) on an early filed return, the IRS puts a hold on your refund for a special review to make sure you report these credits correctly and to prevent fraud. We know how important tax refunds are to you and your family, and we want you to be the first to know when the IRS will start processing your refund.

What we know right now

The holds the IRS puts on your return are part of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. The IRS website and app will be updated for most filers by February 17, 2025, including expected refund dates for most early filers with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).
In 2025, PATH funding will be done in two batches. Based on historical data, we believe they are most likely to happen on February 19 and February 20.

IRS refund schedule 2025

Typically, the IRS will fund most refunds in 21 days or less. But the IRS does not guarantee a certain date, so don’t spend the money until you receive it. Some returns may take longer. You can check your refund's status by using Where's My Refund? on the IRS website.

Expected timing for PATH Act funding

Date	Day	What we expect
2/17	Monday	No refunds sent on Presidents’ Day holiday.
2/18	Tuesday	IRS will begin processing returns, but not funding refunds. The U.S. Treasury typically does not fund on the first possible day.
2/19-2/21	Wednesday-Friday	The IRS starts funding! Get your refund faster¹ when you file with Jackson Hewitt and choose to have it deposited on a Serve^® American Express^® card.
2/22- 2/23	Sat- Sun	No refunds sent on weekend days. The IRS Where’s My Refund? app is updated with information on PATH funding refunds.
By 2/28	Friday	Most PATH funding refunds are expected to be deposited. Mailed refunds can take 4-6 weeks or longer, based on the mail system.

¹Faster access compared to standard tax refund electronic deposit and subject to the IRS submitting refund information to the bank before release date. The IRS may not submit refund information early.

Estimated processing times between U.S. Treasury funding and when you get your money 

American Express Serve^® Card. Very fast, usually within 24 hours and up to 2 days faster than other methods

Direct deposit to other cards or bank account. Typically, 2-5 business days, but depends on the bank

Republic Bank paper check. Typically delivered to address on your return within 5-7 business days

When does the PATH Act lift in 2025? 

In 2025, the IRS will lift the PATH Act holding requirement on February 17, and start processing returns for taxpayers who have claimed the EITC and ACTC. This is two days later than it normally lifts the PATH act since February 15 falls on a Saturday. Additionally, since February 17, 2025, is Presidents’ Day, we do expect the IRS to start funding refunds on February 19 at the earliest.

Most early-filing taxpayers who claimed either the EITC or the ACTC can expect the IRS to fund their refunds by February 28, 2025.

File now at Jackson Hewitt for a tax refund advance 

Did you know that you don’t have to wait for the IRS to get money? When you file your taxes early with Jackson Hewitt, you can take advantage of a No Fee Tax Refund Advance (NFTRA) loan.¹ If you’re approved for the loan, you could leave with money on a prepaid card the same day.² The best part? Your loan will be automatically repaid from your tax refund, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. 

Check back for updates

Bookmark this page, and we’ll keep you up to date. Haven’t filed? Find your nearest location. and let’s get you set up for your biggest refund possible. 

Frequently asked questions

Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after we receive your return. Even though the Treasury issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it’s possible your refund may take longer. Also, remember to take into consideration the time it takes for your financial institution to post the refund to your account or for you to receive it by mail.

According to the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue EITC and ACTC refunds before mid-February. The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC- related refunds for early filers to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by February 27, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return. However, some taxpayers may see their refunds a few days earlier. Check Where’s My Refund for your personalized refund date. 

Where’s My Refund? on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go mobile app remain the best way to check the status of a refund.

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About the Author

Mark Steber is Senior Vice President and Chief Tax Information Officer for Jackson Hewitt. With over 30 years of experience, he oversees tax service delivery, quality assurance and tax law adherence. Mark is Jackson Hewitt’s national spokesperson and liaison to the Internal Revenue Service and other government authorities. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holds registrations in Alabama and Georgia, and is an expert on consumer income taxes including electronic tax and tax data protection.

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