IRS Reports Increase in Tax Refunds for 2026 Filing Season
Recent statistics from the IRS indicate that the average tax refund for the 2026 filing season has risen significantly compared to last year, as the filing deadline draws near.
As of March 20, the average tax refund has reached $3,571, marking an increase of $350, or about 10.9%, from the average refund of $3,221 during the same period in the 2025 filing season.
In total, the IRS has refunded over $202 billion to taxpayers so far, which is a 12.9% increase from the $179 billion returned by this time last year.
Additionally, the number of refunds issued has seen a slight uptick of 1.8%, rising to just over 56.7 million, representing an increase of about one million refunds for the current season.
It’s worth noting that the overall pace of this filing season is somewhat slower than the previous year. Up until March 20, returns received were down by 0.9%, totaling nearly 78.9 million, while the number of returns processed has decreased by 1.1% to around 77.8 million.
Interestingly, more taxpayers are opting to prepare their returns themselves this year, with self-prepared returns increasing by 1.9% to over 37.8 million. On the flip side, e-returns filed by tax professionals have decreased by 1%, totaling 39.7 million to date.
The deadline for filing returns for the 2025 tax year is Wednesday, April 15. Taxpayers who require an extension can apply before this date but will need to pay the estimated amount owed.
More taxpayers are now receiving their refunds via direct deposit as the IRS moves away from paper checks. This year, direct deposit refunds have increased by 6.5% year-over-year to nearly 57.3 million, with the average direct deposit refund rising by 8.4% to $3,561. Total direct deposits have surged by 15.5%, amounting to nearly $204 billion.
The IRS has been phasing out paper refund checks since last fall, but will still issue paper checks when no digital alternative is available. Exceptions include situations where taxpayers lack a bank account, including prepaid debit cards and digital wallets.
A notable increase in traffic to the IRS website has been reported, with visits up 55.6% from last year, jumping from 244 million to over 380 million. This surge might be linked to recent changes in federal tax law, which include new temporary deductions for tips, overtime earnings, and enhanced deductions for senior citizens, among other modifications.
