The 2026 IRS tax refund season is in full swing, with millions of taxpayers eager to learn when they will receive their refunds after filing their 2025 tax returns. The IRS has begun accepting returns as of January 27, 2026, and taxpayers can track their refunds using the 'Where’s My Refund?' tool on IRS.gov, which updates daily. The average refund amount this year is $3,138, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year, attributed to inflation adjustments. Generally, refunds for e-filed returns with direct deposit are issued within 21 days, while paper returns can take four to eight weeks due to manual processing delays. Certain situations can cause delays, such as claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit, which are mandated by law to be held until February 27, 2026. Taxpayers should ensure their banking and filing details are accurate to avoid unnecessary delays, and they are advised against calling the IRS, where wait times can exceed 42 minutes.