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The common tax refund is 14.2% increased up to now this season, in comparison with about the identical interval in 2025, in accordance with early IRS submitting knowledge.
As of Feb. 13, the common refund quantity for particular person filers was $2,476, up from $2,169 about one yr prior, the IRS reported on Friday. The information is cumulative from the Jan. 26 tax season opening.
The whole quantity refunded was about $32 billion, up 8.3% from 2025, in accordance with the IRS launch. Nonetheless, 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 “massive stunning invoice” might influence the dimensions of tax refunds this season.
In a Fact Social submit on Tuesday, Trump mentioned tax refunds are “considerably better than ever earlier than.”
“In some instances, estimates are that over 20% will likely 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.
Just a few days earlier, on Feb. 13, Treasury Secretary and appearing IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent advised CNBC’s “Squawk Field” the common tax refund was 22% increased up to now 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 increased than the common refund enhance 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 enhance
“Up to now, 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 assume tank, advised CNBC.
However there’s nonetheless not sufficient submitting knowledge to help conclusions about submitting season developments, he mentioned.
Sometimes, the common refund dimension will increase beginning round mid-February as soon as funds embody the earned earnings tax credit score or extra 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 knowledge by Feb. 20, which the IRS will launch on Feb. 27.
