Here's when you'll get your tax refund from the IRS

NEW YORK -- Tax filing season is underway, and the IRS expects 164 million people will file returns by April 15.The average refund last year was $3,167.

This year, analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in tax law.More than 165 million individual income tax returns were processed last year, with 94% submitted electronically.

People with straightforward returns should not encounter delays, but because of an exodus of IRS workers since the start of the Trump administration, the national taxpayer advocate has cautioned that the 2026 tax filing season is likely to present challenges for those who run into problems filing.While last year IRS employees were not permitted to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline, many of those customer service workers have now left.The IRS started 2025 with about 102,000 employees and finished with roughly 74,000 after a series of firings and layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Here’s what to know:If you file electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to receive your refund.If you choose direct deposit, it should take even less time.

If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer.The IRS cautions that taxpayers not rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.Taxpayers can use the online tool Where’s My Refund? to check the status of their refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.The “Where’s My Refund?” tool will also provide projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC refund filers by Feb.

21, according to the IRS.Information related to this tool is updated once daily, overnight.To access the status of your refund, you’ll need:— Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)Tax...