03/24/2026
The 2026 tax filing season is projected to yield significantly higher average refunds compared to 2024 and 2025. This shift is primarily driven by the legislative changes introduced in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Current data as of the sixth week of reporting shows total refunds reaching $182.6 billion—a nearly $20 billion increase over the same period last year ($163 billion). Furthermore, the average refund has surged by 10.8%, currently standing at $3,623.