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Why some tax refunds may actually be smaller than expected in 2026
Average IRS tax refunds rose 10.9% to $3,571 despite 0.9% fewer filers, with gains mainly benefiting higher earners and select groups, IRS data shows.
- Despite White House projections for the "biggest tax refund season ever," many Americans are finding their actual 2026 refunds smaller than anticipated, falling short of expectations set by President Donald Trump's tax bill.
- Federal benefits expert Eric Steffy of Federal Solutions Support explains that tax relief arrived as higher take-home pay throughout the year, reducing the final lump refund when less money is withheld from paychecks.
- Internal Revenue Service data shows the average tax refund reached $3,571 as of March 20, a 10.9% increase over last year, though nearly a million fewer filers submitted returns this year.
- Corey Husak, director of tax policy at Center for American Progress, notes that 55% of increased refunds go to those earning qualified overtime or paying large state and local taxes, leaving other groups behind.
- Tax season 2026 ends on Wednesday, April 15, with the IRS and state agencies like the New Jersey Treasury providing online portals for taxpayers to track refund status before the deadline.
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Average Tax Refund Around 11 Percent Higher Than a Year Ago: IRS Data
New data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) show that the average tax refunds in the 2026 filing season have risen about 11 percent as the filing deadline soon approaches. The IRS said that as of March 20, the latest data available, the average refund increased 10.9 percent from $3,221 from the same time period last year to $3,571 so far during the 2026 filing season, according to an update published on the agency website on March 27. The t…
·New York, United States
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Tax Refunds Are 11 Percent Bigger This Season, but You May Need to Change How You File to Get That Boost
The average IRS tax refund has jumped to $3,571 this year, but a major shift in the SALT cap and new Trump-backed deductions mean the winners are changing. Here is why you may need to itemize to see an 11% boost.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution79% Center
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center
C 79%
14%
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