Average Tax Refunds Are Up 14 Percent Early in the 2026 Filing Season: How Florida Households Can Put a Refund to Work

For many Florida households, a tax refund is the largest single payment of the year. Early figures from the Internal Revenue Service suggest this year’s checks are bigger. Through February 13, 2026, the average refund was $2,476, up 14.2 percent from $2,169 at the same point in 2025 ¹. The IRS had issued about 12.96 million refunds totaling $32.08 billion, up 8.3 percent in dollars even though the number of refunds was down 5.1 percent ¹.

For anyone behind on bills, that money deserves a plan before it arrives.

What the Early Numbers Show

The IRS cautions that early-season comparisons move around. Large percentage changes are common at the start of each filing season and usually even out as more returns come in ¹. Through February 13, the IRS had received about 32.2 million returns, down 2.6 percent from last year, and it expects filing to catch up because many taxpayers were still waiting for tax documents at the end of January ¹.

These totals also leave out a large group of families. Federal law requires the IRS to hold refunds on returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit until February 15, so those refunds are not yet counted ¹. The IRS said the figures it expects to release February 27, covering refunds through February 20, should be higher ¹. Most refunds are arriving by direct deposit, with an average direct deposit refund of $2,548 ¹.

Why Some Refunds Are Larger This Year

The 2026 filing season opened on January 26 and is the first in which several provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill take effect ². The new deductions, claimed on a new Schedule 1-A, cover qualified tips, overtime pay and car loan interest, along with a larger deduction for seniors ². The IRS has said these provisions could lower tax bills and potentially increase refunds ².

A few other dates and changes matter. The deadline to file 2025 returns and pay any tax due is Wednesday, April 15, 2026 ². The IRS expects about 164 million individual returns this year ². It is also phasing out paper refund checks and strongly encourages taxpayers to set up a bank account for direct deposit ².

Putting a Refund to Work When Money Is Tight

A refund can buy real breathing room if it goes where it does the most good. Some practical priorities:

• Protect housing and transportation first. Getting current on rent, the mortgage or the car payment keeps the basics in place.
• Address debts with serious consequences. Back taxes, child support and utility shutoff notices usually deserve attention before credit cards.
• Build a small cushion. Even a few hundred dollars set aside can keep the next car repair or medical bill from going on a card at high interest.
• Be careful with large lump-sum payoffs. Paying down one card may help, but if total unsecured debt is far beyond what a refund can cover, it is worth getting advice before spending the money.

How Refunds Are Treated in a Bankruptcy Case

For people already thinking about bankruptcy, the refund is part of the picture. In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, debtors must give the trustee a copy of their federal income tax return when the Bankruptcy Code requires it, or the case may be dismissed ³. The court’s local rules also address trustee motions to pay debtors “their allocable portion of any tax refund” ⁴, which reflects that a refund received around the time of filing may be divided between the bankruptcy estate and the debtor.

In practice, that means the timing of a filing and the handling of a refund should be decided together, before the refund is spent. A refund that has been filed for but not yet received, or one that is already in a bank account, should be discussed with bankruptcy counsel at the first meeting.

Anyone in South Florida deciding how a refund fits into a plan to deal with debt can request a confidential consultation with The Roca Law Firm, in English or Spanish.