Joyce OrlandoUSA TODAY NETWORK
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- The IRS continues to see a decreased number of returns being filed, but expects things to even out closer to Tax Day.
- Around 6,000 IRS workers were laid off by the Trump Administration, and experts warn taxpayers that it could cause delays in refunds.
Despite being part of the federal workforce purge, the Internal Revenue Service is still getting refunds out. But it could be partly due to the decrease of early filers, according to data from the agency.
The IRS keeps track of how many people file each tax year broken down by week. The latest data provided by the agency showed that as of Feb. 21, 42,707,000 tax returns had been received. This is a decrease of 4.2% compared to the number of returns filed for a similar time frame in 2024.
The IRS is expecting the numbers to even out as tax season continues.
"Historically, filing season numbers even out as more tax returns come in; the IRS expects the tax return filing numbers will level out in future weeks as the April filing deadline approaches," read a statement on the Feb. 14 data analysis.
With around 6,000 IRS employees having been laid off as the Trump administration continues its purge of the federal workforce, questions have arisen about how much it will affect the 2025 tax season and if returns could be delayed.
Here's a look at how tax season is going so far.
How many refunds have been given in 2025, so far?
So far, 29,615,000 refunds have been given in 2025, compared to 28,945,000 in the similar time frame in 2023.
More than $102.253 billion in refunds have been given in 2025, which is about 10% higher than in 2024. The average 2025 refund is about $3,453.
When will I get my tax refund?
On average, three out of every four tax filers can expect to see a refund. When that refund comes in depends on when you file your tax return and the processing time with the IRS. And it also depends on how you file.
In 2025, as we head into peak tax season, experts are telling people to expect longer wait times, especially if you are wanting an actual check and not doing direct deposit.
CPA Practice Advisor,a resource for tax professionals, estimates if a person filed electronically on Feb. 17, they could wait until March 7 for their paper check to come in.
The IRS issued a statement, that people who claim the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit need to anticipate delays. Taxpayers claiming those credits should have started seeing updates via the IRS's "Where's my refund" tool and people who claimed the credits were expected to get refunds starting March 3. But that's only if they file their return online, take their refunds via direct deposit, and have no issues with their tax return.
White House changes, social media could all impact 2025 tax season
Along with the firing of almost 6,000 workers, the White House also initiated a hiring freeze at the IRS, which is predicted to be much longer than hiring freezes other federal agencies face, according to reports from USA TODAY.
People may have thought that President Donald Trump's touted tax break would take effect on their 2024 return, but that's not going to happen. Changes to tax law must go through Congress, and often can take time, according to the IRS.
On social media, there have been a slew of posts suggesting that taxpayers "wait and the IRS may go away." Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, told the Detroit Free Press that it's just bad information floating on social media.
"I see virtually no chance of retroactive tax administration on political promises from the election," Steber said.
"If the changes happen at all, political statements rarely end up exactly as tax law changes and let alone retroactively," he said.
Steberbelieves that changes in tax law probably won't be seen until people are filing their 2026 taxes in 2027.
When is Tax Day 2025?
Like most other years, you have until Tuesday, April 15. Tax Dayalways falls on that date, unless April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, or you happen to file an extension.
Where's my refund? How do I track my tax refund?
The IRS has a handy site so you can track the progress of your refund with the “Where’s My Refund” tool. Here's what you'll need to check on your refund status, according to the IRS:
- Your social security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)
- Your filing status
- The exact refund amount on your return
USA TODAY and The Detroit Free Press contributed to this report.
