Since the start of the 2025 tax season on January 27, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has accepted, processed, and paid tax refunds on 2024 individual returns. Refunds are normally delivered within 21 days of electronically submitted returns, however they may be delayed owing to mistakes, special credits, or filing techniques.
Since we are in the last days of March, some who filed their tax returns at the beginning of the season are already anxiously waiting for their direct deposits or paper checks to arrive; however, the first on the list in the coming days are those who met an additional requirement: they used the “e-filling” system, which means they filed their taxes electronically rather than on paper.
Where’s My Refund? Millions of dollars arrive next week in tax refunds
Based on the 2025 refund schedule, taxpayers who e-filed between February 24 and March 2, 2025, will receive their refunds between March 22 and March 31. The table below details the estimated dates:
- Electronic filing date range:Â February 24 to March 2, 2025
- Direct deposit refund date:Â March 22, 2025
- Mailed check refund date:Â March 29, 2025
Filers include individuals who filed early in the season, presumably waiting for forms such as the W-2, as well as those who like to file at the beginning but before the peak of late March and April.
Remember that refunds received to taxpayers before mid-February may not include tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), which may impact averages in subsequent quarters.
The average tax refunds in 2025 has increased
To establish the precise average refunds for 2025, we need much more current data, because the IRS has yet to provide fresh numbers. However, we may create a projection as a reference using data up to March 7, 2025: the average refund was $3,324.
This average covers the sixth week of tax season and is a 7.2% increase in total refunds granted ($145 billion) over the same week in 2024.
However, early averages were lower; for example, on February 14, 2025, the average was $2,169. This rise in the average happens because the original refunds did not include tax credits such as the EITC or ACTC, which are distributed until mid-February each year.
For the period March 22-31, it is acceptable to believe that the average of $3,324 is representative since it covers a larger number of returns completed. There is some evidence that the average refund may grow in the following weeks.