2024 IRS Tax Refund Schedule And Direct Deposit Payment Calendar

By all reports tax return processing and refund payments for the 2024 tax season are going much smoother thanks to IRS investments in technology and no new stimulus payments or tax credits to administer. However further security controls and PATH act restrictions (see below) could delay potential refund payments for some filers.

When Can I Expect My Tax Refund in 2024?

According to the IRS refunds will generally be paid within 21 days. This includes accepting, processing and disbursing approved refund payments via direct deposit or check. This is regular days, not business days.

This was the basis for the estimated 2024 IRS refund schedule/calendar shown below, which has been updated to reflect the Jan 29th, 2024 start date of IRS tax return processing this year.

The refund processing schedule is organized by IRS’ WMR/IRS2Go processing status‘. The listed dates are just week ending estimates and your refund could be paid anytime during the week based on your IRS cycle code (see more on that in sections below).

Further, as many tax filers have found out over the last few years, actual refund payment dates could be much longer if your return is pulled for mandated PATH, additional identity fraud/security checks, special handling or manual agency reviews.

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Tax Return is Accepted by IRS By:
(Status = Return Received)
IRS Processing Completed By:
(Status = Refund Approved)
Est. Refund Payment (DD) By:
(Status = Refund Sent)
January 29, 2024February 5, 2024February 9, 2024
February 5, 2024February 12, 2024February 16, 2024
February 12, 2024February 19, 2024February 23, 2024
February 19, 2024February 26, 2024March 1, 2024
February 26, 2024March 4, 2024March 8, 2024
March 4, 2024March 11, 2024March 15, 2024
March 11, 2024March 18, 2024March 22, 2024
March 18, 2024March 25, 2024March 29, 2024
March 25, 2024April 1, 2024April 5, 2024
April 1, 2024April 8, 2024April 12, 2024
April 8, 2024April 15, 2024April 19, 2024
April 15, 2024April 22, 2024April 26, 2024
April 22, 2024April 29, 2024May 3, 2024
April 29, 2024May 6, 2024May 10, 2024
May 6, 2024May 13, 2024May 17, 2024
May 13, 2024May 20, 2024May 24, 2024
May 20, 2024May 27, 2024May 31, 2024
May 27, 2024June 3, 2024June 7, 2024
June 3, 2024June 10, 2024June 14, 2024
June 10, 2024June 17, 2024June 21, 2024
June 17, 2024June 24, 2024June 28, 2024
June 24, 2024July 1, 2024July 5, 2024
July 1, 2024July 8, 2024July 12, 2024
July 8, 2024July 15, 2024July 19, 2024
July 15, 2024July 22, 2024July 26, 2024
July 22, 2024July 29, 2024August 2, 2024
July 29, 2024August 5, 2024August 9, 2024
August 5, 2024August 12, 2024August 16, 2024
August 12, 2024August 19, 2024August 23, 2024
August 19, 2024August 26, 2024August 30, 2024
August 26, 2024September 2, 2024September 6, 2024
September 2, 2024September 9, 2024September 13, 2024
September 9, 2024September 16, 2024September 20, 2024
September 16, 2024September 23, 2024September 27, 2024
September 23, 2024September 30, 2024October 4, 2024
September 30, 2024October 7, 2024October 11, 2024
October 7, 2024October 14, 2024October 18, 2024
October 14, 2024October 21, 2024October 25, 2024
October 21, 2024October 28, 2024November 1, 2024
October 28, 2024November 4, 2024November 8, 2024
November 4, 2024November 11, 2024November 15, 2024
November 11, 2024November 18, 2024November 22, 2024
November 18, 2024November 25, 2024November 29, 2024
November 25, 2024December 2, 2024December 6, 2024
December 2, 2024December 9, 2024December 13, 2024
December 9, 2024December 16, 2024December 20, 2024
December 16, 2024December 23, 2024December 27, 2024
December 23, 2024December 30, 2024January 3, 2025
December 30, 2024January 6, 2025January 10, 2025

The estimated IRS refund payment dates in the chart above should not be construed as official IRS payment dates. To get the exact date of your refund payment check the IRS’ Where is My Refund (WMR) site or your IRS transcript.

How to read the IRS refund processing schedule

The estimated refund payment dates in the table above are based on past years and IRS processing guidelines. It shows the date your refund will be processed and paid based on the week your return is accepted and refund is approved by the IRS.

The federal IRS refund processing schedule is only for electronically filed returns (e-file) done thorough online tax software providers and assumes your tax return was in order. I.e accepted by the IRS via the WMR tool and status is equal to “Return Received”.

Once your tax return is successfully processed by the IRS, it will go to the “Refund Approved” status, after which it goes to refund sent when the payment is disbursed by the IRS.

Paper filed returns can take considerably longer and could take 1 to 2 weeks longer than the direct deposit payment dates.

Average IRS Refund

Based on the latest statistics from the 2023 tax year the IRS processed over 160 million returns with the average refund payment being $3,089. This was 5% lower than the prior year.

Why Your Refund Payment Could be Delayed

There are many reasons your tax return processing could be delayed beyond what is shown in the standard schedule above. This includes submission errors, IRS reconciliation issues or security/fraud related issues.

This is why many filers are see the “Return Processing Has Been Delayed Beyond The Normal Timeframe (Tax Topic 152)” message during tax season.

Note that as in previous years, if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) your refund may have been delayed beyond the standard processing times due to the PATH act provisions.

This is to allow for fraud and dependent verification on these dependent related tax credits. See sections below for more on the PATH act and refund release timeline.

For those experiencing ongoing issues or delays with their refunds check out this article on “Why is it taking so long to get my refund.” 

IRS Test Batches – Early Refunds

A week or two prior to the IRS officially accepting and processing tax returns, they will often run several test batches with various major tax software providers to “test” and “verify” their systems are integrating externally and processing returns correctly.

This will result in WMR status updates for a small subset of tax payers picked in these early test batches, but refunds won’t be paid until after the official IRS processing date.

Note that early refunds paid as a result of test batch processing are not the same as those via refund advance loans.

When Should Taxpayers contact the IRS?

The IRS has said that phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of your refund if it has been 21 days or more since you filed electronically, or more than 6 weeks since you mailed your paper return or if the IRS WMR tool directs you to contact them. 

You can also see earlier updates from prior tax seasons and the thousands of comments below this article around dealing with delayed tax refund processing issues!

So stay tuned and subscribe to get the latest updates and helpful articles for the upcoming tax season. I also post regular Youtube video updates on tax related topics.

Help! My WMR status bar has disappeared

As many folks have commented, the WMR tracker status bar may disappear or not be shown if your return falls under IRS review after it is received (Status Bar 1: Return Received) because additional information is needed for your return.

This can happen even if you previously checked WMR and it showed the status as “Return Received.”  An explanation or instructions will be provided depending on the situation (e.g. PATH message or Tax Topic 152 as discussed below)

But don’t panic when this happens. The IRS still has your return but things are essentially on hold until the IRS gets the additional information from you to continue processing your return . You will either get directions on WMR or IRS2Go or the IRS will contact you by mail. See more in this video.

Follow the provided instructions and return any additional information ASAP to get your potential refund and reduce any further delays. Talk to your accountant, tax advocate or tax professional if you are not clear on what the IRS is asking for or you don’t get an update after 21 days.

PATH Act and Tax Topic 152

Two of the most common refund related messages showing up on the WMR tool after your tax return is submitted are the PATH message and to Refer to Tax Topic 152. 

The PATH message on WMR/IRS2Go relates to the the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH Act of 2015) and is to notify you that the IRS is legally required to hold and further verify tax returns that include EITC or ACTC.

While the IRS can continue to process affected returns, they cannot issue refund payments until the PATH act lifts. This generally happens from mid-February. See more in this article on PATH act processing for the current tax season.

Path ACT Refund
PATH Refund Delays

The PATH message does not mean your tax return is done and your tax refund is approved. It simply means the IRS systems have identified you are claiming the (EITC) or the (ACTC) on your tax return, and so further processing and payments related to your refund are held up for the statutory hold period (3 weeks after the start of tax season).

Once the PATH restriction is lifted, the IRS will process these returns and pay refunds per the above schedule. You may see Tax code 570 with a Notice 971 code (IRS review adjustment) if your refund is adjusted for other reasons.

When you see the Refer to Tax Topic 152 message it means your refund is being processed and the IRS is directing you its generic refund page for more information. There is not much you can do but wait to see if the IRS finds any issues or requires further verification of your identity or items in your tax return.

A Tax Topic 151 message simply means that you’re getting a tax offset which may result in your refund being less than you expected. The reason for this is that the federal government has “offset” or deducted monies from your tax refund to cover debts you owe other federal agencies. See this article to get more details on why your refund was offset.

You will get an official notice letter/report explaining the actual offset and adjustments to your tax return, and details on how to appeal this action – but likely it will delay you getting your refund.

While not great news, the silver lining here is that the IRS has processed your return and your adjusted refund (where applicable) should be on its way. You will see code 846 on your transcript when the refund has been issued.

What is the IRS Cycle Code on my Transcript?

While the above IRS refund schedule can give you an estimated date for you refund once approved (WMR/IRS2Go status) by the IRS, it may take a while to get there.

So some folks use their IRS tax transcript (free from your IRS account) which shows various tax processing codes and a “cycle code.” This is an eight digit number that indicates when your tax return posted to the IRS Master File (IMF).

The cycle code is updated regularly and when combined with the tax topic code, can provide insight into your tax refund status, processing stages and potential direct deposit date. You can see a deeper discussion on IRS cycle codes in this article.

IRS Tax Transcript Cycle Code

If I can see current year processing details on my IRS tax transcript does it mean I am getting my refund soon?

This question comes up a lot and I have seen a few comments on this suggesting that that if you can see current tax season processing details on your (free) transcript then your refund is on the way. But this is not a factual statement.

The IRS is very clear that just being able to see processing details on your IRS transcript does not mean you will imminently be getting a refund and is among the common myths and misconceptions repeated in social media.

For the current tax season you transcript will update several times in line with your cycle code (discussed above) and IRS processing. The official IRS line is that checking the WMR or IRS2Go tool is the best and official way to check your refund status.

However I have read a number of comments here and on other tax sites saying that when WMR/IRS2Go provides limited information on the refund, your IRS transcript can be a good source to get more details. The is especially the case if your refund processing has been stuck for a while.

IRS system issues and refund delays

Every year the IRS has issues with processing returns in a timely manner and so a number of people see delays in getting their refunds or updates in the status of their refund on the WMR tool/app.

The IRS has said most system processing issues have now been resolved and new funding will be used to upgrade systems.

But given the various legacy systems in place and sheer volume of processing to be done, including prior season backlogs of paper and amended returns, I would not be surprised to see system issues arise again this year, which mean more delays in processing and paying refunds. See more around processing delays in this video.

See these articles for average refund amounts in past tax seasons and refund processing times by state

Amended Tax Return Refund Schedule

While the IRS promises to have regular return refunds processed within 21 days for nine out of ten tax payers, it does take quite a bit longer to receive a refund if you amended your tax return.

Generally you will have to wait up to 16 weeks more for the IRS to process amended returns since they prioritize regular returns. Also note that the standard”Where’s my refund” service from the IRS does not track amended tax return status’. You need to instead use the IRS tool, “Where’s My Amended Return.”

You can also access the tool via phone by calling 1-866-464-2050.  Only call the IRS to follow up on delayed amended return refunds after 12 weeks. The number to call is 1-800-829-1040.

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4,006 thoughts on “2024 IRS Tax Refund Schedule And Direct Deposit Payment Calendar”

  1. Anyone from Maryland? I checked the refund status yesterday and it said received and being processed, today it says has not been processed please note that acknowledging receipt of your return takes place when your return has processed and it appears in our computer system… I am so confused. Either they have it or not

    Reply
    • hey, im from MD, mine said the same thing and then went back to accepted and processing. did you ever find out what that was about? thought i was the only one lol

      Reply
  2. My friend already got his refund deposited! I think it was Wednesday. I believe his was accepted on 22nd. Single filer..

    Reply
  3. Still the wmr does not show me any bars should i be worried even though i was approved and accepted on jan 22nd

    Reply
  4. My statis says my Refund will be Direct deposited January 31st but it seems now 11:15pm and still hasn’t been sent to my bank. Can it go past the date?

    Reply
  5. Taxes were sent on the 29 and still have not been approved by the IRS,I did them through turbotax.Could something be wrong?

    Reply
    • Hello
      I did mine on 02/01/2018 and when I log in to WMR no information yet.
      They should review returns(If this is the case) for fraudulent people not working people.

      Hope everything turns out good for everybody!!!

      Reply
    • It means it has no updated in their system yet. I was accepted with in minutes of submission two days ago and it has no shown me any bars. It actually can’t find my information. Don’t worry, the IRS is expecting ALOT of traffic this year due to early filers. Wait another 24-48 hours and you should see something.

      Reply
  6. Tax topic 151 means you’re under review. The reference number will indicate the reason. I.e, 1242 is EIC review.

    Reply
    • Where did you find this reference #? It only links the tax topic 151 informational page and the status bar changed to Take Action see below for more information. It says not to call until you receive the notice but has anyone had success calling before receiving the notice and getting info on exactly what they are looking for?

      Reply
  7. I was accepted on the 23rd saw the bars and 152 message. Now I have no bars and no 152 message. It just says it’s processing.

    Reply
    • WMR does that, a lot, through out the hole tax period. It could be updating on the WMR or just way to much traffic. If you have Earned income and or Child Credits then it will just give you the path act 152 message and one bar. IRS does not start processing till the 29th but as always they are doing a small batch for system testing. That in no way will get you your refund faster though. Also the IRS is expecting more early filers this year then all the other years which means more traffic through their system. Be patient, they are not perfect but they do try to get everyone’s refund in a timely manor. Give it another 36 hours to reflect on WMR. It updates every day at night just once so no need to check more than once a day.

      Reply
  8. I know two people with no EIC or child credit that received their returns yesterday.
    Hopefully the government doesnt shut down again and delay those of us that have to wait.

    Reply
  9. Does anyone know why the wmr says status is unaavailble i was approved and accepted on jan22nd i filled on jan 16th

    Reply
  10. How often is the WMR site updated and what time of day/night?
    Filed online Jan 25 and accepted that day, refund possible Feb 2nd or 9th?

    Reply
    • The computer systems generally update between 2- 6 AM Est. You can also be on a weekly or daily update, check daily and look into calling after 21 days if no letters. We have to remember the computers are processing millions of tax returns, lets both cross our fingers and hope we get DDD this upcoming week. :-)

      Reply
      • Danielle, This is my first year using the emerald card.. Once deposited, is there a wait time in regards to when you can access your funds or are they available immediately? Thanks for your time. -Dawn

        Reply
  11. If you can order your tax return transcript then that means you are all done processing and should be updated on the 16th through the WMR and refunded no later then 14 days after the 16th. No there is no date on your tax transcript or the ”cycle code”that will show your refund date. Its a code for the cycle batch it went through.
    If you look at your pay stubs, they also have a cycle code on them tha refects the batch it got processed through. It just means you are done processing and there is nothing to worry about just wait a week after the 16h to get your refund.
    They normaly make deposits on Wednsdays and Fridays. Dont be alarmed if it does not update to a delivery date after the 16th. The WMR sees alot of traffic around that time and it lags behind updating.

    Reply
  12. Few things for the few that don’t know the whole Path Act mess. Yes there will be no information about when your refund will come untill after the 15th. last year it updated for me the morning of the 16th not the morning of the 15th for me and alot of others just an fyi so this year will be the same. Also my refund came the Wednsday after that.
    Also the IRS updates the wheres my refund once a day but for us Path Act it wont till the 16th. Just check to make sure the IRS has not added any codes telling you to contact them. Dont freak out if bars go away either. WMR gets alot of traffic and goes down constantly.
    The WMR mobile app lags up updates compared to the desktop version so if you can always use your computer to check. Mobile WMR is on a different server with alot more traffic then then Computer one.
    Also Yes they are processing your return when it gets accepted, again, it wont be updated to a delivery date untill after the 15th. If there is anything wrong remember the IRS will send you a letter in the mail and put a code on the wheres my refund page when you type in your information.
    If you have a straight forward return with say just the standard W2/HSA with your dependents then it should process through the system pretty fast and there should be nothing to worry about.
    If you filed this year on the start date of the 29th through the 1st that will be the first batch of refunds to go out and that will be a week after the 16th and if you have a normal bank there should not be a hold on it.
    The IRS says the week of the 27th but they are counting bank delays if your bank puts a hold on it. Mine did not and alot of them wont since it’s an ACH from the irs. It acts just like a pay check. If you have a money spend card or that horried emerald card through a tax preper such as jackson hewitt or HR block then it could take extra days to hit. It happens alot because those tax prepers have to filter it through their bank first then to you. Never use them, they suck. Efile through turbotax or taxact is so much easier and free.
    Break Down. They process your return after it gets accepted. If you have child credit tax and earned income it will be held untill the 15 and updated on the 16th even if they are done processing a week after you filed.
    Always use WMR on your computer, the mobile app does not get updated as much or as fast.

    Reply
    • My sister in law got the Child Tax Credit, not the EIC and filed on Jan.22 and was accepted Jan.22. She checked WMR Feb.3rd and it Says she will have her refund deposited into her bank account Feb.7th! How is that!? i thought by law the IRS had to hold refunds until Feb.15th!?

      Reply
  13. filed jan.16th 2018-had to leave for work. came bacc signed off 1/26 it’s received them @1:18pm on the 26th of 2018. I HAVE CHILD EARNED CREDITread postings I should not expect anything till 2/27

    Reply
  14. Mine 2017 has been accepted.
    Won’t get dispersed until the 27th of February because of the Child Tax Credit.
    Last year it was the 22nd I believe.

    Reply
    • Same here although the IRS is not starting to process anything untill the 29th. Anywho, Last year my refund hit my bank on the 22nd. My taxes were straight It’s a week later because last year processing starting a week earlier.

      Reply
    • Mine hit 22nd at my bank last year as well. It might be the same this year. They are saying the 27th incase there is a delay with the banks accepting them. They said the same thing last year and they just say that cause it’s better to over estimate then under estimate and piss alot of people off lol. I think as long as people have a straight forward return, just a w2 and normal other forms then they ussualy process with in a week or two. Few years ago before the Path act they processed mine with in a week with the same credits and forms.

      Reply
  15. I filed as soon as I got my W-2, no EITC this year so no delay for me this time, thank goodness.

    But, I’m glad I checked here before I started obsessively checking WMR to see if it’d been accepted yet, or I’d be panicking like I did last year about how long it was taking.

    Only a few more days, folks! Hope everyone gets their coming money in a timely manner!

    Reply
    • I remember you from last year although I didn’t comment much but I still have the Path Act delay but that’s ok. I went smooth for me last year with no hiccups. Honestly it’s about the same amount of time as with no delay, maybe an extra wee.

      Reply
  16. It’s that time again!!!
    Received an e-mail from TaxAct late yesterday evening saying my return has been accepted by the IRS.
    But since I get the child tax credit I know I won’t receive it until the last few weeks of February like last year.
    Good luck to everyone. I hope everyone’s return process goes smoothly.

    Reply
      • You can google search for last years article for the ”2017 IRS Tax refund schedule” and put savings to invest with it and it should pull up last years page. I was here last year and it was quite informational and fun.

        Reply
  17. Hello eveeybody its 2018 cant wait to start talking to you guys again and go thru the process and Journey with are taxes this year

    Reply
  18. My return was submitted May 25th. We are now approaching 5 months. Wheres my refund site always says “still being processed”. How do I escalate or reach a live person?
    Many Thanks,
    Scott

    Reply
  19. accepted sep 6 and say 15 dd my refund and I’m thinking how is that if statues bar still at step#1 and its 15 today I don’t think I’m getting my dd refund today I give u especially after seen all these comments / ???? what y’all think ???? is going on ???

    Reply
  20. So I’ve filed my taxes a week after we were able to. It’s 09/14/17 and all I keep getting in the mail is them pushing my review date further. I was supposedly “randomly” picked to audit my taxes. I have always filed the same time, same kid, same information. When I called about it I was told “there systems were messed up a few months ago and they are catching up” I honestly don’t believe that any longer. I need to know the real answer to why are they taking this long. Also does anyone know if it’s true the longer they hold your taxes they start adding a small percentage of interest.

    Reply
    • when did it get accepted ??? mine got accepted sep 6th @ 6pm says refund between 7-27 dd my refund wonder if its true today is 15 already irs states bar still #1 step

      Reply
  21. I filed in January as every year, it is august 8 and nothing has happen.
    I think this is going overboard.
    people rely on their refund to be ok through out the year. it is so unfair .
    and then we cant do anything, I called and the lady said that they are under staffed.

    Reply
  22. I also submitted in February. It was initially accepted the next day. April 12th I got a letter saying they “needed more information” with a list of a few items. I sent all items in the mail the very next day. “Where’s My Refund” continued to state “still processing” the ENTIRE time during this period. On July 10th I called and waited for forever and got to talk to someone who said they didn’t process my info I mailed in April until June 1 but said it should be 6 to 8 weeks from June 1. It is not AUGUST 3rd. Still no refund. Still says “processing”. Good grief.

    Reply
  23. this really stinks i filed my taxes in Febuary and its now August 2017i wake up ervery morning and go to work till 7pm and work hard for my money so where is my refund will someone plz tell me where it is. every one i know has already got theirs and spent it.

    Reply
  24. My tax refund was ACCEPTED on January 26, 2017. It is now July 16, 2017 and the WMR website still says “Your tax return is still being processed.” Any ideas?

    Reply
  25. My tax refund was ACCEPTED on January 26, 2017. It is now July 11, 2017 and the WMR website still says “Your tax return is still being processed.”
    HELP!!!

    Reply
  26. We filed in February…..after 8 weeks of being told it was processing, the IRS finally said they never received 2012 and 2014 taxes. Weird, how did we get returns for 2013 and 2015 if we hadn’t filed the other two. So we got printouts of our previously filed 2012 and 2014 taxes and mailed that in. Kept calling being told they were working on it. To finally find out a few weeks later that they “never received our paper work”. We had to get tax advocate involved. He promised x amount of money asap to pay bills once we sent him shut off notices. Well, three weeks later we are still waiting to receive ANY of our refund. We have not got a dime back and no one can give us a true reason to why. I can say being a stay at home mother and my husband providing for a family of 5, this is not fun in the least.

    Reply
  27. I filed electronic with Turbo Tax on March 18th, it is July 7th, IRS site says “still processing” ….

    Reply
  28. I filed my taxes June 8Th . I haven’t received no status update on no processing just yet, no transcript and of course no refund status. I agree with other people when i say it’s ridiculous and frustrating.

    Reply
  29. I submitted our state and federal tax returns April 14th. We received our state refund about 3 weeks later. Our federal return was accepted that same day (Turbo Tax efiled), but today’s status shows it was received and it is still processing. Today is 6/24/17. We opted for paper check due to knowing we were about to switch banks.
    No amendments. No odd filings/credits. Very straight forward…standard deduction2 with 2 kids and no child care expenses. Lived in this state for 3 filing periods already. WHAT is going on?! Chart above says check should have been cut May 4th…almost 2 months ago.

    Reply
    • i filled same day still waiting. it says my refund is still being processed. i didnt receive any letters or notices. this is really stress full. my birthday is in 8 day i filled months ago i planned on using my tax money. smh

      Reply
  30. I electronically filed my taxes April 7 it is now June 22 same job for 4 years, my tax preparer put my old address from 3 years ago by mistake and I over looked it as well, Once we realized it I sent in an address change and still no refund. This is the first time my refund have taken this long, what is the hold up its my money!!! Research what? its 2017 you can get that done in 1 hour of the IRS day

    Reply
  31. Filed my taxes in February got the tax code 151 and 1242 send in everything the IRS asked for twice its now june 20th 2017 and still have not received any further letters from the IRS and WMR hasn’t changed…so 4 months later still waiting..Am I EVER going to see my refund this is rediculuos…

    Reply
  32. I had to file a paper tax return due to a identity theft concern with my husbands employer. I mailed it April 18th and it is now June 17th and the WMR update says they are still processing my return. This is ridiculous. I sent in my son’s first ever return the same day and he just received his refund in the mail a week ago. I’m not depending on my refund but man I could really use it right about now.

    Reply
  33. I cannot believe it is June 15th and me and my wife have still yet to get our refund? Can’t find out any information on what is going on. We pay way to much in taxes as it is and barely get a 1/4 of it back. We get taxed for the money we make, the money we spend and the stuff we own. What have we done???

    Reply

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