Average tax refund expected to be even higher in 2026, according to IRS data
Tax season is here, and new data from the Internal Revenue Service shows the average tax bill will be even higher this year.
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- Most taxpayers who file electronically can expect their refund by direct deposit within 21 days.
- The tax deadline for tax year 2026 is Wednesday, April 15th.
Have you filed your taxes yet?
According to a recent survey by Intuit Credit Karma, 52% of U.S. adults are expecting a refund this year, and 54% of taxpayers plan to file early to expedite their refund.
Here’s how to find out when you’ll receive your refund and check your refund status.
Where can I find my federal tax refund?
If you file your federal taxes electronically and include your banking information, you can expect your money to be deposited directly within 21 days. If you do not enter your bank information, you may receive a paper check in the mail within 6-8 weeks.
Filing a return and having it accepted by the IRS are not the same thing. You can find out if it was received by checking the status of your tax return online and looking for the “Refund Sent” alert. From that point on, you won’t have to wait long for the funds to appear in your account.
Will I be able to get my tax refund later due to the government shutdown?
During a government shutdown, the IRS typically operates with significantly fewer employees, which may slow tax refund processing times.
Critical services, such as electronic filing processing, may be delayed and returns may take longer to process, potentially impacting the financial planning of many households.
Other complications associated with the closure may include delays in processing paper-filed returns and interruptions to in-person and telephone services.
How to track your refund
The IRS has an online tool called “Where’s My Refund” that allows you to check the status of your refund.
You can check your refund status within 24 hours of electronically filing your return. Refund information is updated nightly on the IRS website.
Once the IRS approves your refund, it may be deposited directly into your account within a few days.
The online tool requires you to enter your social security number, filing status, and exact refund amount on your return. You will then receive a return receipt (processing), refund approval (refund ready for issue by the indicated date), or refund submission (sent via bank or post).
Another way to check your status is to call the IRS at 800-829-1954.
When is the tax return deadline?
The 2026 tax deadline is Wednesday, April 15th.
To apply for a federal income tax extension, taxpayers have until April 15 to fill out Form 4868. Filing this form gives filers an additional six months to complete their tax return, until Tuesday, October 15th.
You can still file your tax return after April 15 without requesting an extension, but you may be subject to penalties if you are behind on your taxes.
Contributor: Travis Jacque Rose, Greenville News
Samantha Neely is a trend reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK in Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. Sign up for our free Florida TODAY newsletter at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters to get all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday..
