Your Tax Refund This Year May See a Nice Boost

Tax season just started, and early birds are already seeing fatter checks from the IRS. As of Feb. 6, the average refund has been coming in at $2,290, almost 11% higher than at this point last year, according to new IRS data. The agency says refund amounts are "strong," a trend expected after a 2025 tax law overhaul that analysts predicted would boost payouts by roughly $1,000 per filer on average, reports CBS News.

The gains aren't evenly spread. Analysts say households in the top 10% of earners stand to see the biggest bump, while lower-income taxpayers will get increases that are more modest. Refunds are also likely to swell as tax season moves on, since lower-income filers typically submit returns earlier and higher earners with more complex returns file later. Last year's average refund ultimately landed at $2,939.

The IRS, which has received about 22.4 million returns so far—slightly below last year's pace—expects refund figures to climb when it releases its next update on Feb. 27, once more returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit are processed. The AP notes that upward of 165 million individual tax returns were filed in 2025, with the vast majority being sent in electronically. MassLive, meanwhile, warns of possible weekslong delays in refunds due to the phasing out of paper checks this year.