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Some people received larger refunds when they filed 2025 federal income tax returns in the 2026 filing season because tax-law changes applied retroactively to the start of 2025, while withholding and estimated payments may not have been adjusted to account for them. The effect depended on each taxpayer’s eligibility and return; a larger refund was never guaranteed.
Why could a 2025 tax return produce a bigger refund?
A refund generally reflects the difference between what you paid toward federal income tax during the year and what you ultimately owed. If a deduction lowers the tax calculated on your return, but your withholding or estimated payments were not reduced along with that tax, you may receive more back. A deduction reduces taxable income; it is not a dollar-for-dollar payment.
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill changed several tax rules for 2025. Some provisions were retroactive to the start of the year, so taxpayers may have paid during 2025 without adjusting withholding or estimated payments for the changes. The IRS described this timing in its March 11, 2026 Tax Tip 2026-20: “Some of these changes are retroactive to the start of 2025, which suggests that taxpayers may not have adjusted their withholding or recalculated their estimated income tax obligations.”
Which deductions may have affected the refund?
The IRS highlighted deductions that could reduce taxable income for eligible taxpayers filing 2025 returns. The limits below are maximum deductions, not automatic benefits or guaranteed refund amounts. Eligibility and other rules apply; see the IRS guidance for details.
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- Some taxpayers age 65 or older: an additional deduction of up to $6,000.
- Qualified tips: a deduction of up to $25,000 per return.
- Qualified overtime: a deduction of up to $12,500 for individual filers or $25,000 for joint filers.
Whether any of these provisions changed a particular return depended on the filer’s circumstances and whether the income and other requirements for the deduction were met. A filer who did not qualify, or whose payments already reflected the tax ultimately owed, might not see a larger refund because of these changes.
What did IRS refund figures show?
At comparable filing-season checkpoints, the IRS reported a higher average refund in 2026 than in 2025. Its statistics for the week ending May 8, 2026 show the following cumulative totals:
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| Measure | Through May 8, 2026 | Through May 9, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Average refund | $3,276 | $2,939 |
| Refunds issued | 99,138,000 | 93,569,000 |
The average refund was 11.5% higher at the 2026 checkpoint. These figures describe aggregate filing-season totals through the dates shown, not a forecast for an individual taxpayer. The number of refunds issued is a count, separate from the average amount. Neither measure establishes what any one person received or why.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does a bigger refund mean your taxes went down by the same amount?
No. A refund is shaped by both the tax calculated on the return and payments made during the year. A larger refund can reflect a lower tax bill, higher withholding or estimated payments, or a combination of factors. It does not by itself show that a taxpayer’s overall tax burden fell by the amount of the refund increase.
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The 2026 filing-season figures concern 2025 federal individual income tax returns. They should not be read as a promise about refunds for a later tax year, when applicable tax rules and payment patterns may differ.
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