Taxpayers saw noticeably fatter checks this year. According to IRS data, the agency issued 99.13 million refunds during the 2026 filing season, and the total dollar value climbed to $324 billion — an 18% jump over the prior year.
The rise in IRS tax refunds 2026 outpaced the growth in the number of refunds themselves, which means the typical individual refund grew as well. As reported by Cleveland.com, the number of refunds rose 6%, while the money paid out increased three times faster.
How much did the average IRS tax refund grow in 2026?
Because the total refund pool grew far faster than the count of refunds, the average payment moved higher. Here is what the IRS figures show:
- Total refunds issued: 99.13 million, up 6% from last year
- Total dollars refunded: $324 billion, an 18% increase
- Result: a larger average refund per taxpayer compared with the previous season
The exact dollar figure for last year’s average refund was not fully specified in the available reporting. What the data makes clear, however, is that the pace of the dollar increase — 18% — ran well ahead of the 6% rise in the number of refunds, and that gap is what pushed individual refunds up.
Why were tax refunds higher this year?
A refund reflects the difference between what a taxpayer paid or had withheld during the year and what they actually owed. When refunds rise across the board, it usually points to shifts in withholding, income patterns, or tax provisions that affected how much money people overpaid.
The IRS data itself reports the totals rather than a single cause. Because the dollar total grew so much faster than the number of refunds, the increase was driven more by larger individual payouts than by simply more people receiving money back.
How can I check my own IRS refund?
Taxpayers who want to confirm the status or amount of their own refund can use the IRS
