Overview
- IRS week-nine filing data report $221.7 billion in refunds issued, up from $195.2 billion in 2025 and $185.6 billion in 2024.
- The average refund hit about $3,521, with only a small rise in the number of refunds, so the increase reflects larger checks rather than many more checks.
- The jump tracks to the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which raised the Child Tax Credit, boosted standard deductions, and excluded tips and overtime from tax for many workers.
- Because employers largely kept pre-law withholding tables through 2025, many people overpaid during the year and are now getting that money back at filing.
- Advisers recommend using larger refunds to pay high-interest debt or build a bigger emergency fund, and they suggest filing a new W-4 to adjust withholding going forward.