# Average IRS Tax Refund Is Up 10.9% So Far This Season, Early Filing Data Shows
The 2026 tax filing season is delivering strong news for early filers: **average tax refunds have climbed to $2,290 as of early February, representing a 10.9% increase** compared to the same period last year.[2] This surge reflects a significant shift in taxpayer benefits, driven primarily by new tax provisions enacted in late 2025.
## What’s Behind the Refund Boost?
The substantial increase in refund amounts stems from the “One Big, Beautiful” bill signed by President Trump in July 2025, which introduced several tax cuts that are now benefiting filers.[1] According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, these provisions fall into two main categories: tax cuts available to tens of millions of taxpayers averaging hundreds of dollars, and tax cuts available to millions of taxpayers averaging thousands of dollars.[3]
One of the most significant changes is the **increase in the standard deduction**. The 2025 legislation not only made the expanded standard deduction from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent but increased it further. Single taxpayers now claim $15,750 (up from $15,000), head of household filers claim $23,625 (up from $22,500), and married couples filing jointly claim $31,500 (up from $30,000).[3]
Crucially, because these standard deduction increases were implemented mid-year in 2025, employers did not adjust paycheck withholdings to reflect the larger deductions. This means the entire benefit of the increased standard deduction flows directly into larger refunds when taxpayers file their 2025 returns—a windfall that explains much of the year-over-year growth.[3]
Another contributor to larger refunds is the **enhanced Child Tax Credit**. The legislation increased the maximum Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $2,200 per child, providing an additional $200 per child for eligible families.[3] While this benefit phases out for higher-income households, it still provides meaningful increases for middle-class families with children.
## Who Benefits Most?
Not all taxpayers are seeing equal gains. **The biggest benefits are flowing to those in the top 10% of income households**, according to analysis from Principal Asset Management cited in IRS statements.[1] Lower-earning taxpayers will also see gains, but the increases tend to be smaller in absolute dollar terms compared to higher-income households.[1]
However, there’s an important caveat to early filing season data: lower-income Americans typically file earlier in the season, while wealthier households—whose tax returns are more complex—file later. This means the current average refund figure may actually understate the overall refund growth for the full season. Andrew Lautz, director of tax policy for the Bipartisan Policy Center, notes that average refund amounts typically start small, peak in mid-February, and then decline slightly through the end of tax season.[1] Last year, the average refund reached $2,939 by the end of the season.[1]
## Early Filing Trends
As of February 6, 2026, the IRS had received nearly 22.4 million returns, though this represents a slight decrease from the 23.6 million returns received during the same period in 2025.[1] Despite the lower volume of early filings, the total amount refunded has actually increased. The IRS processed $16.954 billion in refunds as of early February 2026, up from $16.635 billion the previous year—a 1.9% increase in total dollars despite fewer returns being processed.[2]
The number of refunds issued was 7.403 million as of February 6, down 8.1% from 8.054 million the prior year, yet the average refund amount jumped 10.9%.[2] This data clearly demonstrates that while fewer people have filed early, those who have filed are receiving substantially larger checks.
## What to Expect in Coming Weeks
The IRS expects refund numbers to grow even more impressive as tax season progresses. The agency has indicated that numbers released on February 27 will likely be higher than current figures, as that data will include refunds for taxpayers claiming the **Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC)**—refundable credits designed specifically for low- to moderate-income working families.[1]
Under the PATH Act, the IRS is required to hold refunds claiming EITC or ACTC until February 15, so these millions of refunds are not yet reflected in the early February statistics.[2] Once processed, these refunds could significantly boost the overall average, particularly for lower-income households.
## Timeline for Getting Your Refund
For those filing electronically, the IRS typically processes refunds in fewer than 21 days.[1] Direct deposit remains the fastest method for receiving refunds. The IRS expects most EITC and ACTC refunds to reach taxpayers’ bank accounts by March 2, 2026, for those who chose direct deposit and have no other issues with their returns.[4]
## The Bottom Line
The 10.9% increase in average tax refunds reflects meaningful tax relief for millions of American households. While the benefits are distributed unevenly—with higher-income households seeing larger absolute gains—the across-the-board increase demonstrates that the 2025 tax legislation is delivering on its promise of broader tax cuts. As more taxpayers file throughout February and beyond, refund amounts are expected to continue climbing, making 2026 a particularly generous tax season for early filers and those claiming refundable tax credits.
Original source: CNBC Business – Average IRS tax refund is up 10.9% so far this season, early filing data shows
Leave a Reply