Still Waiting On Your Tax Refund? The IRS Says Relief May Be Coming This Month
Although the 2025 tax filing season ended weeks ago, some taxpayers are still waiting for their federal tax refunds.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), relief may be on the way for certain filers this month.
The IRS typically issues refunds within about 21 days for electronically filed returns. Paper returns generally take longer to process, and amended returns or filings requiring corrections can result in additional delays. As a result, most taxpayers who filed by the April 15 deadline have already received their refunds.
However, two groups are more likely to still be waiting: taxpayers who filed under extended deadlines and those whose refunds were delayed because of missing banking information.
Taxpayers Filing Under Extensions
Many taxpayers were granted extra time to file due to disaster-related IRS relief measures. For example, individuals affected by severe storms, flooding, and the remnants of Typhoon Halong in parts of Alaska were given until May 1, 2026, to file certain returns and make payments. Similar extensions were provided to eligible taxpayers in Montana and Washington following extreme weather events. Additional relief remains available for some residents of Mississippi, Hawaii, and Georgia. Because these taxpayers filed later than the standard April 15 deadline, many may still be awaiting refund payments.
Refunds Delayed By Missing Banking Information
Another group experiencing delays includes taxpayers whose refunds were placed on hold because they did not provide direct-deposit banking information. Under rules introduced for the 2026 filing season, the IRS may temporarily freeze refunds until taxpayers either update their banking details or request payment by paper check.
In a March letter, Representatives Danny K. Davis of Illinois and Terri A. Sewell of Alabama reported that more than 1.4 million taxpayers had experienced refund delays due to missing banking information. They noted that some individuals had already waited more than two months and warned that taxpayers receiving paper checks could face delays exceeding 10 weeks.
The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service also advised that refunds may remain frozen until taxpayers submit updated banking information or choose to receive payment by check. Some affected taxpayers have already received notices instructing them to update their direct-deposit details.
Refund Amounts Increase
The delays come during a tax season that has seen significantly larger refunds. IRS filing statistics released in April showed that the average refund reached $3,462 as of April 3, an increase of 11.1% from the $3,116 average reported a year earlier. Total refunds issued had climbed to approximately $241.7 billion, compared with $211.1 billion during the same period last year.
“The agency processed roughly 120 million tax returns and issued 80 million refunds during the filing season, with total refund amounts increasing about 11% year over year,” said IRS Commissioner Frank Bisignano.
How to Check Your Refund Status
Taxpayers can track the status of their refunds using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” online tool. Refund information is generally available within 24 hours after an electronic return is filed and within four weeks for paper returns.
Debate Over Tax Filing Continues
The refund delays have also renewed discussion about how Americans file their taxes. In April, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts renewed efforts to restore the IRS Direct File program, a free government-operated tax filing service that was discontinued for the 2026 filing season. Warren argued that the program simplified filing and reduced costs for taxpayers, while the Trump administration maintained that private-sector alternatives could provide tax preparation services more efficiently.
Source: Benzinga
