The IRS has issued 3.2 million refunds for the 2025 filing season so far. As of Jan. 31, the average refund amount was $1,928, which covers the first four days of the filing season. The agency sends most refunds in less than 21 days.

Tax season can be stressful from gathering all the required documents to finding a trusted place to file. Here are some options for filing for free.

The IRS expects over 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed between Jan. 27 and Apr. 15, meaning if delays do occur, millions could be impacted.

In early February 2025, claims emerged that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, had terminated, or planned to terminate, a program — Direct File — run by the IRS that allows (some) citizens to file individual tax returns for free:

Most taxpayers can expect to receive their refund in a matter of weeks. We’ll show you how you can check up on the status of your tax refund.

Here's when the last day to file taxes is, what documents you'll need, new forms for the 2024-25 tax season and how to track your tax refund.

And if you anticipate getting a hefty refund back, it may behoove you to get that process started now so you can keep an eye on that check or direct deposit before it gets to you. Yes, individuals who file both online and in-person can use the IRS' website to track the status of their tax refund.

The 2025 tax season in the United States kicked off on January 27, with the IRS ready to accept returns. While most refunds are processed within 21 days, several factors can lead to delays.