Tax refunds, managed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), correspond to surpluses paid by taxpayers during the fiscal year, either through labor withholdings or quarterly payments. Although the exact amount distributed after February has not been revealed, weekly trends suggest a substantial increase, tied to the peak of filings between January and April.
The IRS confirmed that the remaining refunds will be sent progressively as the analysis of the returns progresses. For electronic procedures, the average time frame is 21 days, while paper submissions could take additional weeks. The agency warns that payments linked to specific credits will face delays until mid-February due to legal regulations.
Tax season timings and deadlines
The window to declare income began on January 27, 2025 and will close on April 15, with extensions until October only for procedures, not for pending payments. One critical fact: Claims that include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) are subject to the PATH law, which holds processing until mid-February.
As of the end of February 2025, the IRS had provided $29.6 billion in refunds, corresponding to 13.6 million returns processed, with an average payment of $2,169 per person. This figure does not include cases subject to the PATH law, whose data will be incorporated in future reports. In comparison, for the same date in 2024, the amount distributed was $11.5 billion.
The analysis of weekly flows reveals a 65% jump in the number of refunds between February 7 and 14, going from 8 million to 13.6 million cases. Experts project that the accumulated total could exceed $50 billion by the end of the season, considering the more than 140 million individual declarations expected.
Don’t miss these recommendations for taxpayers, and avoid delays in your refund
Those who file their returns close to the April 15 deadline will receive their refunds until early May, according to the IRS. The entity insists on prioritizing the electronic method and direct deposit to speed up times. Additionally, it is recommended to double-check the data entered to avoid errors that delay the process.
Among the frequent causes of delays are numerical inconsistencies, identity verification requirements and the inclusion of tax credits with special regulations. The “Where’s My Refund?” tool allows you to monitor the status of the procedure online or through the agency’s mobile application.
The year-on-year comparison reflects an increase of 157.4% in the total amount reimbursed and a 103.7% increase in the average per declaration. While in 2024 each refund was $1,065, in 2025 the figure rose to $2,169, according to official data as of February 14.
The agency warns about fraudulent campaigns that impersonate your identity through calls, emails, or text messages. “The IRS will never request confidential information over the phone or threaten immediate legal action,” says a spokesperson on its official website. In 2024, 12,000 phishing cases related to refunds were reported.