The average IRS tax refund climbed nearly 11% compared with the same point a year earlier, according to agency data reported by Fox Business. For households that count on that money each spring, an increase of that size means a noticeably larger check landing in bank accounts.
The figure comes straight from the IRS’s own filing-season numbers, which the agency updates as returns are processed. Fox Business highlighted the nearly 11% jump in the average refund as one of the headline takeaways from that data.
What does the IRS tax refund increase actually mean?
An average refund is exactly what it sounds like: the total dollars refunded divided by the number of refunds issued. When that average rises by close to 11% year over year, it signals that the typical filer is getting back more than they did the previous season.
It is worth being clear about the limits of this single number, though. An average can move for several reasons, and the material available here does not break down the exact dollar amounts behind the percentage. The reported detail is the near-11% increase itself.
Calculate Your 2026 COLA Increase →Why is the average refund higher this year?
The available reporting from Fox Business does not spell out a specific cause for the increase, so any single explanation would be guesswork. In general, though, average refunds shift because of factors such as:
- Inflation adjustments: The IRS updates tax brackets and standard deductions each year, which can change how much tax people owe.
- Withholding levels: If workers had more tax withheld from paychecks than they ultimately owed, refunds grow.
- Credits and deductions: Changes to credits people claim can raise or lower the amount returned.
- Timing of filings: Early-season averages can differ from later ones as more returns come in.
Because the source did not attribute the rise to any one of these, treat them only as the usual drivers rather than a confirmed reason for this particular jump.
When will I get my refund?
The reporting focuses on the average refund size, not on a schedule for individual payments. The IRS typically issues most refunds within about 21 days of accepting an electronically filed return, though returns claiming certain credits or needing extra review can take longer.
If you want the timing for your own return specifically, the IRS’s own tools are the reliable place to check rather than any average figure.
How do I check my own refund status?
To see where your money stands, use the IRS directly instead of relying on season-wide averages. The agency offers its
