2026 tax filing season now open: How to get your refund ASAP

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FILE - Filing for a tax refund with cash in the background. (Getty Images) 

The 2026 tax filing season has officially begun and refunds are expected to be larger than last year.

The average refund amount is expected to be $3,167, according to IRS data. 

What they're saying:

"I can see that we’re gonna have a gigantic refund year in the first quarter because working Americans did not change their withholdings," Treasury Secretary Scott  Bessent told the "All-In Podcast" hosts in December. "I think households could see, depending on the number of workers, $1,000- $2,000 refunds.

Here’s how to get your refund faster: 

Direct deposit

The IRS recommends linking your bank account directly to whatever service you use to file your taxes online.

This is the fastest way to receive your refund.

All you need is your routing number and account number, which can be found on your mobile banking apps.

It can also be found at the bottom of your paper checks. The routing number is usually on the left side and the account number is on the right. 

Big picture view:

In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to modernize America's banking, and it included stopping paper tax refund checks. 

The IRS announced it would begin phasing out this practice beginning Sept. 30, 2025. 

File electronically

In addition to setting up direct deposit, filing your taxes electronically will help speed up the process of receiving a refund. 

"Combining direct deposit with electronic filing is the fastest way to receive your refund. There’s no chance of it going uncashed, getting lost, stolen, or destroyed," the IRS says.

The IRS will usually issue a refund in less than 21 days. 

For those who filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax credit, a refund should be expected by March 2, 2026. 

What you can do:

Once you file your taxes, you can keep track of your refund using the "Where’s My Refund" tool on the IRS website.