WEALTH
Tax Refunds Are Up In 2026 But Not As Much As Some Expected
Early tax filing data shows refunds are increasing in 2026, but the gains are more modest than many taxpayers anticipated given recent policy changes.
By Vanessa · · 4 min read read
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Tax refunds are trending upward in 2026, according to the latest IRS data, but the increases are more modest than many taxpayers had hoped. The average refund has risen by approximately 3.5%, falling short of projections that had predicted gains of 5% or more.
Experts attribute the shortfall to a combination of factors, including inflation adjustments that offset some of the benefits from recent tax code changes.