Industry
IRS Filing Data Shows Average Refund Up 11% in 2026 — OBBBA Deductions Likely Driving the Increase (Apr 2026)
Through April 3, the average tax refund is $3,462 compared to $3,116 at the same point last year. Total refunds paid: $202.6 billion versus $179.5 billion in 2025.
Published April 17, 20263 min readVerified as of April 17, 2026
The Numbers
Through the week ending April 3, 2026, the IRS has issued 56.7 million refunds totaling $202.6 billion. At the same point in 2025, those figures were 55.7 million refunds and $179.5 billion. The average refund this year is $3,462, up from $3,116 — an 11% increase. Roughly 71.9% of returns filed so far have resulted in a refund.
Why Refunds Are Larger
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act deductions that took effect for the 2025 tax year are the most likely explanation. The $6,000 senior deduction for filers 65 and older, the tip and overtime income deductions, and the higher SALT cap all reduce taxable income. Most employers did not adjust their withholding tables mid-year when the new deductions took effect. Employees had the same amount withheld from their paychecks but owed less tax when they filed. The difference between what was withheld and what was actually owed shows up as a larger refund. For a full breakdown of the OBBBA provisions and their CPA exam implications, see the OBBBA tax changes overview.
What This Doesn't Tell You
A larger refund does not necessarily mean a lower total tax burden. It can also mean more overpayment throughout the year — money that sat in government accounts instead of earning interest for the filer. The IRS publishes gross collections data separately, but it lags refund statistics by several months. Full-year comparisons between 2025 and 2026 tax liability will not be available until the IRS Data Book is released later in 2026.
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For CPA Candidates
The OBBBA provisions become testable on REG and TCP starting July 1, 2026. Candidates sitting for either section after that date need to study the new deductions, including the tip and overtime income exclusions, the SALT cap changes, and the $6,000 senior deduction. Review courses that have already updated their materials for the July blueprint change will cover these provisions. For the full list of what is changing, see the OBBBA tax changes article.
Sources
- 1.IRS — Filing Season Statistics for Week Ending April 3, 2026(accessed Apr 17, 2026)
- 2.CNBC — Average tax refund is 11% higher so far this filing season(accessed Apr 17, 2026)
- 3.Senate Finance Committee — Historic Tax Filing Season Brings Larger Refunds(accessed Apr 17, 2026)
Brennan Kolar
Founder, Atlas CPA Index
Brennan Kolar is the founder of Atlas CPA Index, an independent CPA review comparison platform covering all 55 U.S. jurisdictions. With over 10 years of experience with CPA review, he built Atlas to help candidates find the right review course based on how they actually learn, not which provider has the biggest ad budget.
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