Where's My Refund? @www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund

Where's My Refund? @www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund checked here.

Early tax refunds arriving now, but IRS saw far fewer returns filed in first week

Where's My Refund?

"Where's my refund?" Many might be asking that question because their tax return has yet to be processed.

On Friday, the Internal Revenue Service reported that the agency has processed 15.8% fewer individual income tax returns during the first week of the tax season through Jan. 31 compared with the first week of filing season last year. Nearly 11.73 million returns were processed in the first week of the 2025 tax season.

The IRS said it received 14% fewer returns during the first week of the tax season compared with last year.

This year, the IRS began accepting and processing e-filed income tax returns for individuals starting Jan. 27. Last year's tax season started Jan. 29 and the initial week's data ran through Feb. 2.

Why IRS says processing numbers are down

The IRS essentially blamed the calendar on why we saw such a big drop in the percentage of returns received and processed. We will see what happens in the weeks ahead.

"Because many taxpayers were still waiting for important tax documents at the end of January, the IRS expects the tax return filing numbers will catch up in the following weeks," the IRS said in a footnote with the filing season statistics posted Friday.

Employers, for example, have a Jan. 31 deadline each year to mail W-2 forms that report an employee's income and withholdings. Many times, though, tax filers are able to get some of that information online and avoid waiting for the documents to be sent in the mail.

The IRS said it received nearly 13.18 million returns through Jan. 31, down 14% from the same period last year.

Where's My Refund? @www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund

In the footnote Friday, the IRS stated: "Large percentage changes in filing season numbers are usually seen at the beginning of each tax season."

The IRS stated that numbers tend to historically even out in future weeks as more tax returns come in.

Right now, though, some uncertainties loom about how smoothly this tax season will go. Many changes are being initiated by President Donald Trump and his administration. Right before the start of tax season, for example, the White House initiated a hiring freeze at the IRS, which could be much longer than those hiring freezes facing other federal agencies.

Some 3.23 million refunds were issued

Believe it or not, some tax refunds already have been sent and, maybe, even spent, even if the early data doesn't look great when it comes to returns processed.

According to the first bit of data available for the 2025 tax season, the IRS reported that the average refund was $1,928 for tax returns processed by Jan. 31. That's up 38.2% from an average of $1,395 during the first week of the tax season last year, which ran through Feb. 2, 2024.

The IRS issued 3.23 million refunds in the first week of the 2025 tax season, and that's up 23.5%.

At the same time, the IRS data showed that 3.285 million refunds were sent by direct deposit during the first week this year, up 24.2% from last year. The average refund amount received by direct deposit was $2,069 — up 34.1% for the same time frame last year.

The IRS noted that total refunds issued represents refunds for returns received and processed in 2025, which reflects current year returns only.

The number of direct deposit refunds includes money for both the current and prior year returns processed in 2025, the IRS stated, which makes the figure larger than the "total number of refunds" listed for the current year.

The IRS took a special step of issuing extra refunds to 1 million people in December and January, as part of a stimulus-related catch-up program. Most of these people filed a 2021 tax return three years ago but somehow they skipped claiming a much-talked-about stimulus credit worth a great deal of money. Most likely, they didn't realize they qualified. The money was sent to bank accounts and by check through the mail, based on information the IRS had on file.

The chart that the IRS issued Friday afternoon did not list a total amount, which is often in billions of dollars, for all refunds issued through Jan. 31. Last year's statistics showed that nearly $3.65 billion in refunds had been issued through Feb. 2, 2004.

Just one week of tax news

Recognize that just one week of tax data doesn't give you much of a clue about how well the rest of the tax season will go.

Last year, for example, the total number of refunds issued during the first week of the tax season was down 67.3%. Much of that was blamed on the change in the kickoff dates for the filing season.

The 2023 filing season began on Jan. 23, so the IRS had been receiving returns for 12 days by Feb. 3, 2023. The 2024 filing season kicked off Jan. 29, which meant that the IRS had been processing returns for five days through Feb. 2, 2024.

Why do average refunds go up later in the season?

The average tax refund received during the first week of most tax seasons tends to be lower than the average reported later in the year. Why?

There's a simple explanation: Some very large refunds, such as those involving tax returns that claim the earned income tax credit, face delays by law that demand that those refunds be issued after mid-February.

The average federal income tax refund in 2024 was $3,138 based on IRS data through Dec. 27, down 0.9% from the same period in 2023.

When can you expect refund cash?

The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, especially when the return is filed electronically, and the refund is to be made via direct deposit into a bank account. Some refunds arrive even earlier than that.

If the IRS accepted your federal income tax return on Jan. 27, you might expect to receive a refund by Feb. 7 if you e-filed the return and opted for direct deposit. If you e-filed but requested a paper check, you might expect the refund check by Feb. 14, just in time for Valentine's Day, according to an estimate by CPA Tax Advisor, which provides resources for tax professionals. Those dates do not apply to all returns.

“Do not take these dates as exact predictions, as all taxpayers have different tax returns, documents, incomes, and other situations,” according to CPA Tax Advisor.

A key factor to consider is when the IRS “accepts” your return, which can be two days to three days after the day you submitted it electronically.

In general, tax experts say, someone might expect a refund by direct deposit as early as 10 days after it the e-filed return is accepted by the IRS. It takes longer if you request a paper check.

If the IRS accepts your e-filed tax return by Feb. 10, according to CPA Advisors, the estimated date for receiving a refund is Feb. 21 for direct deposit and Feb. 28 for a paper check. Again, there are many exceptions.

If you claim the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit, the IRS notes that you can expect to get your refund by March 3. That's if you file your return online, opt to get your refund by direct deposit, and have no issues with your tax return.

Some taxpayers, the IRS said, may receive their income tax refunds a few days earlier. The IRS "Where's My Refund?" tool is expected to show an updated status by Feb. 22 for most early filers who claimed the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit.

The IRS cautions all taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a set date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns require additional review and take longer.

Article Where's My Refund? @www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund published on personal finance bytes