The next federal bank holiday depends on today's date, but the full 2024 and 2025 schedule is fixed
Federal bank holidays are set by Congress and do not change year to year. If you are reading this before November 28, 2024, the next holiday is Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 28. If you are reading this after that date, the next is Christmas Day on Monday, December 25, 2024. For 2025, New Year's Day falls on Wednesday, January 1, followed by Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20.
Bank holidays matter for refunds, payments, and money transfers because banks close on these days and do not process transactions. A tax refund scheduled to arrive on a bank holiday will land in your account the business day before or after, depending on your bank and the payment method. Direct deposits sent on a holiday typically post the next business day. Checks mailed before a holiday may arrive after it, adding days to your wait.
The federal government observes 11 bank holidays per year. Some states add their own holidays on top of these, which can affect state tax refunds, state benefit payments, and local government checks. If you are waiting for money from a state agency, check your state's holiday calendar separately from the federal one.
Key Takeaways
- Federal bank holidays are fixed each year and published in advance; the IRS and Social Security post their full schedules online.
- Money transfers and direct deposits scheduled for a bank holiday will post the next business day, not on the holiday itself.
- Some states observe additional holidays beyond the federal 11, which can delay state tax refunds and state benefit payments.
- Checking your bank's holiday schedule is more reliable than the federal schedule, because some banks close on days others do not.
- If a refund or payment is due on a holiday, contact the issuing agency to confirm the actual deposit date.
The complete federal bank holiday calendar for 2024 and 2025
The federal government observes these 11 holidays each year. Banks close on all of them, and federal agencies do not process payments or refunds on these dates:
| Holiday | 2024 Date | 2025 Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 15 | Monday, January 20 |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, February 19 | Monday, February 17 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 27 | Monday, May 26 |
| Juneteenth | Wednesday, June 19 | Thursday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Thursday, July 4 | Friday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 2 | Monday, September 1 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 14 | Monday, October 13 |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11 | Thursday, November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 28 | Thursday, November 27 |
| Christmas Day | Monday, December 25 | Wednesday, December 25 |
When a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the federal government observes it on the nearest weekday instead. For example, if Independence Day lands on a Saturday, banks close on Friday. If it lands on a Sunday, banks close on Monday. This shift affects when refunds and payments post, so always check the actual observed date, not the calendar date.
How bank holidays delay tax refunds and government payments
The IRS processes tax refunds seven days a week, but banks do not deposit money on federal holidays. If your refund is scheduled to post on a bank holiday, your bank will not receive it until the next business day. This means a refund due on Thanksgiving will actually land on the Friday after, or possibly the following Monday if Friday is also a holiday in your state.
Direct deposit is the fastest way to receive a refund because the IRS can send it electronically. The IRS typically issues refunds within 21 days of accepting your return, but that clock does not stop for bank holidays. If your 21-day window ends on a holiday, the refund posts the next business day. Social Security, unemployment benefits, and other federal payments follow the same rule: they are sent on schedule, but your bank does not post them until the next business day it is open.
Paper checks take longer and are more affected by holidays. A check mailed before a holiday may not reach your mailbox until after the holiday. If the check is dated on a holiday, some banks will not cash it until the next business day. Always allow extra time for checks around holidays, especially if you are waiting for a refund or payment by a specific date.
State holidays that can delay state tax refunds and state payments
Some states observe holidays that the federal government does not, or they observe federal holidays on different dates. These state holidays can delay state tax refunds, state unemployment benefits, and other state payments. For example, some Southern states observe Confederate Memorial Day, which is not a federal holiday. Some states observe Robert E. Lee's birthday. A few states do not observe Columbus Day or observe it under a different name.
If you are waiting for a state tax refund or a state benefit payment, check your state's official holiday calendar on the state revenue or labor department website. Do not assume the state follows the federal schedule. Call the state agency directly if you are unsure whether a particular day is a holiday in your state.
Local governments and some private employers may also observe holidays that banks do not. If you are waiting for a city or county payment, or a refund from a local agency, ask that agency which days it is closed. A holiday that does not affect banks may still delay the agency from processing your payment.
What to do if your refund or payment is due on a bank holiday
If you know your refund or payment is scheduled to post on a bank holiday, contact the issuing agency before the holiday to confirm the actual deposit date. The IRS has a refund tracker on its website that shows the exact date your refund will post. Social Security has a payment schedule that lists the date each month's payment is sent. Unemployment agencies post payment schedules by state. These tools are more accurate than assuming the holiday will shift the date by one day.
If the agency confirms the deposit is scheduled for a holiday, ask whether it will post the day before or the day after. Some agencies send payments early to avoid holidays; others send them on schedule and let the bank handle the delay. Knowing which applies to your situation helps you plan if you need the money by a specific date.
If your refund or payment does not arrive on the expected date, wait one business day after the holiday before contacting the agency. Banks sometimes post deposits late on the day after a holiday because of high volume. If it still has not arrived after that, call the issuing agency with your confirmation number or tracking information.
How to check your bank's specific holiday schedule
Not all banks close on all federal holidays. Some large national banks close on all 11 federal holidays. Some regional banks close on fewer holidays. Some credit unions have their own holiday schedules. Your bank's website lists the days it is closed and when it will not process deposits or transfers.
Call your bank or log into your online account and look for a holiday schedule or closure notice. Many banks post their holiday schedule in November for the rest of the year. If you cannot find it online, call the customer service number on the back of your debit card and ask which days the bank is closed. This is especially important if you are waiting for a large refund or payment and need to know the exact date it will post.
Some banks process direct deposits on holidays even though they are closed to customers. If your bank does this, your refund or payment may post on the holiday itself, even though you cannot visit a branch or call customer service. Ask your bank whether it processes direct deposits on federal holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my tax refund post on a bank holiday?
No. The IRS may send your refund on a bank holiday, but your bank will not deposit it into your account until the next business day it is open. Check the IRS refund tracker for the exact date the IRS is sending your refund, then add one day if that date is a bank holiday.
Do all banks close on the same federal holidays?
Most large banks close on all 11 federal holidays, but some regional banks and credit unions close on fewer days. Check your bank's website or call customer service to confirm which holidays your bank observes.
What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend?
The federal government observes the holiday on the nearest weekday. If a holiday falls on Saturday, banks close on Friday. If it falls on Sunday, banks close on Monday. This affects when refunds and payments post.
Can I cash a check dated on a bank holiday?
Most banks will not cash a check dated on a holiday until the next business day. If you receive a check dated on a holiday, wait until the next business day to deposit it.
Do state tax refunds follow the same holiday schedule as federal refunds?
State tax refunds follow your state's holiday schedule, not the federal one. Some states observe different holidays or observe federal holidays on different dates. Check your state revenue department's website for its holiday schedule.