Tax season has officially kicked off – and many filers are eager to know whether they have qualified for larger refunds this year after the White House said Americans could see an extra $1,000.
The 2026 tax filing season officially began Jan. 26, and those who paid more than they owed over the course of the tax year should get a refund.
Others may still get a refund if they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.
When should you expect your IRS refund?
Those who file electronically should get their refund within the usual timeframe of 21 days or less, according to the IRS.
Paper refunds and refunds that require corrections could take four weeks or longer to arrive in the mail.
The IRS has started phasing out paper refunds, but it will still send paper checks if there are no alternative payment options for some filers.
The IRS said it expects most refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit to land in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2.
Some filers could face delays in receiving their refunds due to staff shortages at the IRS after the Trump administration laid off about a quarter of their workforce, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins said in her annual report to Congress last month.
However, most taxpayers should be able to file their taxes and receive refunds without delay, according to the report.
Who qualifies for larger refunds?
The White House has said average tax refunds could increase by $1,000 or more this year thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Last year, the average refund was $3,167, according to the IRS.
One of the most significant tweaks in the bill is an increase to the standard deduction, since this will affect the largest chunk of American taxpayers.
While standard deductions tick up every year, they saw two increases in 2025: once at the start of the year, and once again with the passage of Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The bill increased the Standard Deduction for a single filer to $15,750, up from $15,000, and for a married couple to $31,500, up from $30,000.
It also added an additional $6,000 standard deduction bonus for taxpayers over age 65, many of whom are retired.
The White House said the vast majority of senior citizens – 88% of all seniors who receive Social Security – will pay no tax on those benefits, citing an analysis from the Council of Economic Advisers.
As part of the bill, the Child Tax Credit has been permanently hiked to $2,200 per child, up from $2,000 – meaning you could see an extra $200 in savings if you previously qualified for the $2,000 credit.
If the Child Tax Credit exceeds how much you owe in taxes, you can claim the Additional Child Tax Credit, up to $1,700 per kid. Many low-income filers do not owe a tax balance.
Taxpayers can check the IRS website to see whether your income qualifies you for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which was created for low- and moderate-income working families.
The credit is worth as much as $7,830 this year, depending on your filing status, income and number of children.
Filers can use the IRS online tool “Where’s My Refund?” to check its status.
