By Matt Durr
mlive.com
(TNS)
The average tax refund in 2026 is up significantly over 2025, according to the latest data released by the IRS. For the week ending March 27, 2026, the average refund is worth $3,521, an 11.1% increase compared to 2025’s $3,170.
That increase comes as more tax refunds have been issued so far in 2026 than at this point in 2025. At this time last year, the IRS had issued 61.5 million refunds, but so far in 2026, the agency is up to 62.9 million refunds issued.
Refunds issued via direct deposit are also up in 2026, as the average direct deposit refund is $3,512, up from $3,236 in 2025. The IRS has issued $221 billion in refunds this year, up from $195 billion in 2025.
While those numbers are up, the number of returns that have been filed and processed are down 1.3% and 1.1% respectively. So far in 2026, 88.4 million returns have been submitted and 87.5 million have been processed.
The overall increase in refunds can be attributed in part to changes in the tax code made as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. Among the major changes were no tax on overtime and tips, deductions on auto loan interest for American-made vehicles and more. Increases to the standard deduction are also contributing to the increased refunds.
According to the White House, refunds are expected to rise on average by more than $1,000 in 2026, but so far have not hit that mark. In 2025, the average refund for the entire tax season was worth $3,800, a significant increase from the averages of $3,052 in 2024 and $3,004 in 2023.
During tax season, the IRS typically releases a weekly update on the return and refund data.
Typically, taxpayers who submit their return electronically and opt for direct deposit will receive payment within 21 days after the return is accepted. Taxpayers can track the status of their refund through the IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool. According to the IRS, refund status will appear around 24 hours after a current-year return is e-filed, three or four days after a prior-year return is e-filed, or four weeks after a paper return is filed.
Taxpayers have until April 15, 2026, to file their 2025 return, or they may be subject to fines and penalties.
Photo credit: NoDerog/iStock
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©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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