The average tax refundA tax refund is a reimbursement to taxpayers who have overpaid their taxes, often due to having employers withhold too much from paychecks. The U.S. Treasury estimates that nearly three-fourths of taxpayers are over-withheld, resulting in a tax refund for millions. Overpaying taxes can be viewed as an interest-free loan to the government. On the other hand, approximately one-fifth of taxpayers u as of April 3, 2026, was $3,462, up 11.1 percent compared to $3,116 as of April 4, 2025. The IRS is required by law to wait to release tax returns with EITC and ACTC refunds until after mid-February, so refund sizes typically increase in late February and level off thereafter.
The IRS refunded about $329 billion during filing years 2024 and 2025, more than two-thirds of which were sent out before April 15. As of April 3, the IRS has refunded $241.7 billion to taxpayers in 2026, compared to $211.1 billion in 2025. Total refunds issued in the first few weeks of the filing season can vary, as people may still be waiting for the information they need to file. The IRS (as required by law) also holds EITC and ACTC refunds until after mid-February.
In 2024, the IRS issued more than 104 million refunds out of 163.5 million returns received (64.1 percent), and, in 2025, more than 103.8 million refunds out of 165.8 million returns received (62.6 percent). As of April 3, 2026, the IRS has issued 69.8 million tax refunds in 2026, compared to 67.7 million in 2025. Currently, nearly 70 percent of returns filed have received a refund in 2026.
