Yes. Based on our review of IRS filing season statistics and tax policy analysis referenced in the source article, average IRS tax refunds in 2026 were roughly 11% higher than they were during the same period in 2025.
The claim gained attention after Rep. Nicholas Langworthy stated in a March 2026 social media post that the average IRS tax refund had increased by 11% compared to the previous year.
How We Verified The Claim
During our verification process, we reviewed:
- IRS filing season statistics referenced in the article
- refund averages published for late March 2025 and 2026
- tax policy analysis discussed by economists
- statements explaining the impact of the 2025 tax legislation on withholding and refunds
According to the IRS figures cited in the report, average refunds rose from approximately $3,170 in 2025 to about $3,521 in 2026. That represented an increase of roughly 11.1%.
We also reviewed subsequent IRS reporting periods mentioned in the article, which showed the percentage increase remained relatively stable in later weeks.
What Caused Refunds To Increase?
Based on the analysis referenced in the source article, tax experts linked the higher refunds primarily to changes made under the 2025 tax legislation.
The article explained that expanded deductions and tax credit adjustments reduced many taxpayers’ overall tax liability. However, many workers reportedly continued using older withholding setups during the year, meaning they paid more taxes upfront than necessary and later received larger refunds during filing season.
The report specifically referenced:
- expanded standard deductions
- child tax credit adjustments
- changes affecting overtime and tip taxation
- broader tax reduction measures
Important Context
The increase does not necessarily mean every taxpayer received a larger refund.
Refund averages can fluctuate throughout filing season because:
- early filers may differ from later filers
- withholding levels vary by household
- tax situations changed after the 2025 legislation
- filing patterns continue evolving as more returns are processed
The source article also noted that filing-season averages may shift somewhat over time as additional returns are submitted and processed by the IRS.
Verdict
Yes. Based on the IRS statistics and tax analysis reviewed in the source article, average IRS refunds in 2026 were approximately 11% higher than during the comparable period in 2025. Our review found that the claim was supported by official filing-season data referenced in the report.