Tax refunds are bigger but some early filers must wait to get them

Early tax filers are seeing larger refunds this year, but some may face delays.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Tax filers received more than $32 billion in refunds this year through Feb. 13, up 8.3% from a similar timeframe a year ago. The average federal income tax refund is $2,476, up 14.2% from last year. However, some early filers may face delays in receiving their refunds due to issues with their returns or the 2015 Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, which delays refunds for those claiming the earned income tax credit or additional child tax credit until March 2.

Why it matters

Tax refunds provide a welcome boost to the economy, giving consumers more breathing room to pay bills and make purchases. However, delays in receiving refunds can create financial hardship for some taxpayers, especially those who rely on the refund to cover essential expenses.

The details

The IRS has processed 31.795 million returns in the first three weeks through Feb. 13, down 3.1% from a year ago. The IRS received 32.175 million tax returns through Feb. 13, down 2.6% from a year ago. The IRS is also not automatically issuing paper checks for refunds in 2026, meaning anyone who doesn't supply direct deposit information will face added delays.

  • The IRS began processing 2025 federal income tax returns on Jan. 26.
  • The IRS expects most refunds for early filers claiming the earned income tax credit and the additional child tax credit will be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2.

The players

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

The federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing federal tax laws.

Erin M. Collins

The National Taxpayer Advocate, who wrote in her annual report that the IRS will be confronting a 27% reduction in its workforce, turnover in the agency's leadership, and challenges of implementing complex tax law changes.

Sal Guatieri

The director and senior economist for BMO Capital Markets, who said the economics team does not have a precise estimate of the impact of the tax refunds alone on spending or the economy, but expects the combined tax relief to provide moderate support this year.

Garrett Watson

The director of policy analysis at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, who said it's still too early to draw conclusions about the tax season or the average size of refunds without more data.

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What they’re saying

“Taxpayers who do not provide direct deposit information may experience significant refund delays.”

— Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate (National Taxpayer Advocate's annual report)

“The deductions and benefits are subject to complex eligibility rules, income thresholds, and phaseouts that will be difficult for many taxpayers to understand and for the IRS to administer accurately during the filing season.”

— Erin M. Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate (National Taxpayer Advocate's annual report)

What’s next

The IRS noted on Feb. 13 that the agency's refund numbers that are expected to be released Feb. 27 will include refunds processed through Feb. 20 and, as a result, are expected to be higher.

The takeaway

This tax season highlights the ongoing challenges facing the IRS, including workforce reductions, leadership turnover, and the implementation of complex tax law changes. While many taxpayers are seeing larger refunds, the delays experienced by some early filers underscore the need for the IRS to modernize its systems and processes to better serve taxpayers.