The PATH Act “hold” is expected to lift on February 17, 2026 for the 2026 tax season, meaning that’s when the IRS can start releasing refunds for returns with the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).

Quick Scoop: When does PATH lift 2026?

  • The PATH Act requires the IRS to hold refunds that include EITC or ACTC until after February 15 each year.
  • In 2026, because of calendar and holiday timing, guidance circulating among tax pros and refund-tracking communities points to a PATH lift date of February 17, 2026.
  • “PATH lift” does not mean you get your money that same day; it means the IRS can finally start releasing those held refunds into the normal payment flow.

What happens after February 17, 2026?

Once PATH lifts:

  • The IRS can finish processing and release refunds for early filers who claimed EITC/ACTC, assuming there are no issues with the return.
  • Many refund trackers and tax blogs estimate the earliest direct-deposit PATH refunds to show up roughly 10–14 days after the lift , so late February or early March 2026 for the quickest cases.
  • A lot of people will still see their money in the first full week of March 2026 , depending on when they filed and whether their return gets pulled for any review.

Simple example timeline (2026)

  • File early, get accepted in late January 2026 → held by PATH until Feb 17 → refund could land around Feb 27–early March if direct deposit and no issues.
  • File after the PATH date (after Feb 17) → your return usually processes on a normal 21‑day-ish timeline, since the mandatory hold window has already passed.

Always double‑check the IRS’s official “Where’s My Refund?” tool or their announcements, since exact funding dates can vary by year and by your specific return.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.