How About An Additional $1,000 Tax Refund Boost This Year?

Articles | January 28, 2026 | by Catholics for Catholics

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That’s according to the projections from the Treasury Department.

By Catholics for Catholics

Taxpayers may be in for a very happy surprise this tax season: bigger refund checks, according to Newsmax.

The typical tax refund is expected to spring up by about $1,000 this year, raising average payouts past $4,000. The filing season officially opened Tuesday.

A mind-blowing $429 billion in refunds will be sent during the 2026 tax season, up drastically from $329 billion last year, thanks mostly to President Donald Trump’s signature second-term tax law, according to the projections from the Treasury Department. 

The White House is touting the surge as the biggest refund season ever.

“Millions of Americans are poised to receive significantly larger tax refunds thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s landmark Working Families Tax Cuts Act — which every Democrat in Congress opposed,” the White House said in a statement, referring to legislation also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“The historic legislation is delivering the biggest tax refund season ever.”

💰Here's what you can expect when you file your taxes THIS YEAR (according to the @TaxFoundation): The average refund this year will be about $1,000 higher than last year.

This relief is a direct result of the Republicans' Working Families Tax Cuts Act. pic.twitter.com/KEd9SvKcRz

— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) January 29, 2026

Still, refunds for most households are not a novelty. Last year, more than three-fifths of U.S. households received refunds averaging $3,167, according to data cited by The Wall Street Journal.

But for 2026, the raise is different — both in size and timing.

The refund surge reflects deliberate tax changes in the OBBB.

According to Newsmax, Republicans made the tax cuts retroactive to the 2025 tax year while leaving IRS withholding tables unchanged — that means workers paid higher rates throughout the year and are now getting the full benefit back in lump sums just months before the midterm elections.

But David A. Perez, the CEO of Tax Maverick AI, said the measure and makeup of this year’s refunds are remarkable.

“This is not how tax relief is usually delivered,” Perez said. “Typically, when the government cuts taxes, withholding tables are updated so people see a little more money in every paycheck. That didn’t happen in 2025.”