Average Tax Refund Falls Sharply in 2023

The full amount of cash flowing into American wallets from federal tax refunds is down sharply in 2023, in keeping with the most recent figures from the IRS.

Up to now in 2023, federal tax refunds quantity to about $183 billion, a ten.4% lower from the $204 billion refunded on the identical level final yr.

The dimensions of the common refund is also shrinking. It stands at $2,910, down 9.8% from the common refund of $3,226 at this level in 2022.

In reality, none of this ought to be a shock. The IRS itself warned earlier within the yr that refunds possible could be smaller this tax season.

Lots of the components shrinking refunds are associated to the nation’s emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, as we defined in our story “5 Reasons Your Tax Refund Might Be Smaller This Year.”

Practically 63 million Individuals have gotten refunds up to now in 2023, a slight lower from the identical time interval a yr in the past, in keeping with the IRS.

For its newest replace, the company in contrast knowledge from two deadlines — April 1, 2022, and March 31 of this yr — and located that the variety of refunds is down 0.7% yr over yr, from about 63.4 million at this level in 2022 to 62.9 million this yr.

Whatever the measurement of your tax refund, there’s a lot you are able to do to make use of the cash to enhance your life. For ideas, on what it’s best to and mustn’t do together with your refund, take a look at: