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The common tax refund is 14.2% larger to date this season, in comparison with about the identical interval in 2025, in accordance with early IRS submitting information.
As of Feb. 13, the common refund quantity for particular person filers was $2,476, up from $2,169 about one 12 months prior, the IRS reported on Friday. The info is cumulative from the Jan. 26 tax season opening.
The overall quantity refunded was about $32 billion, up 8.3% from 2025, in accordance with the IRS launch. Nevertheless, the whole filings obtained was down by 2.6%.
Because the midterm elections get nearer, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have been laser-focused on how Trump’s “large stunning invoice” could impression the dimensions of tax refunds this season.
In a Fact Social submit on Tuesday, Trump mentioned tax refunds are “considerably larger than ever earlier than.”
“In some circumstances, estimates are that over 20% can be returned to the Taxpayer,” he wrote. It is unclear which estimates Trump was referencing. The White Home didn’t reply to CNBC’s request for clarification.
A couple of days earlier, on Feb. 13, Treasury Secretary and performing IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent instructed CNBC’s “Squawk Field” the common tax refund was 22% larger to date this season. It wasn’t clear what number of days of returns Bessent’s determine included or what comparability interval he used. However his determine was considerably larger than the common refund improve of 10.9% the IRS introduced later that day.
The Treasury has not responded to CNBC’s requests for remark.
Why common tax refunds may improve
“To this point, refunds are up, which is per our and the Trump administration’s expectations heading into the submitting season,” Andrew Lautz, director of tax coverage for the Bipartisan Coverage Middle, a nonprofit suppose tank, instructed CNBC.
However there’s nonetheless not sufficient submitting information to assist conclusions about submitting season developments, he mentioned.
Usually, the common refund measurement will increase beginning round mid-February as soon as funds embody the earned revenue tax credit score or further youngster tax credit score, the IRS mentioned in its first submitting season statistics launch on Feb. 13.
These numbers might be mirrored within the company’s submitting information by Feb. 20, which the IRS will launch on Feb. 27.
