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 was $3,462 compared to $3,116 at the same point last year. Total refunds paid: $241.7 billion versus $211.1 billion in 2025.

By Brennan KolarFounder, Atlas CPA Index

Published April 17, 20263 min readVerified as of July 27, 2026

The Numbers

Through the week ending April 3, 2026, the IRS had issued 69.8 million refunds totaling $241.7 billion. At the same point in 2025, those figures were 67.7 million refunds and $211.1 billion. The average refund was $3,462, up from $3,116 — an 11.1% increase. Roughly 70% of returns filed to that point had resulted in a refund. (Correction, July 27, 2026: an earlier version of this article cited refund counts from the IRS report for the week ending March 20 while attributing them to April 3; the figures above are the IRS's April 3 cumulative totals.)

Update: Final Season Numbers Held the Trend

Update (July 2026): the IRS's final weekly report of the season, for the week ending May 8, 2026, showed 99.1 million refunds totaling $324.8 billion, with an average refund of $3,276 — up 11.5% from $2,939 a year earlier. The roughly 11% year-over-year increase this article reported mid-season held through the end of the filing season, though the average settled below its April peak.

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.

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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.

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.IRS — Filing Season Statistics for Week Ending May 8, 2026(accessed Jul 27, 2026)
3.Senate Finance Committee — Historic Tax Filing Season Brings Larger Refunds(accessed Jul 27, 2026)

Related on Atlas CPA Index

OBBBA Tax Changes & CPA Exam Impact →REG Exam Guide →TCP Exam Guide →2026 Score Release Dates →Best CPA Review Courses (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.

Learn more about the author

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