The IRS has reported that while the number of tax refunds issued for the 2025 season is slightly lower than the previous year, the average refund size has increased — signalling a shift in refund dynamics. At the same time, the number of tax returns filed and processed has edged upward. This trend has implications for taxpayers, tax professionals, and the broader tax-preparation environment.
According to the IRS, as of October 17, the agency had issued 102,122,000 refunds for the 2025 filing season, compared with 103,185,000 refunds during the same point in the 2024 season.
Despite the slight decline in number of refunds, the total refund amount rose from $309.929 billion in 2024 to $311.651 billion in 2025, representing a 0.6% increase. The average refund also increased by 1.6%, from $3,004 in 2024 to $3,052 in 2025.
When it comes to e-filing, the IRS received 163,594,000 returns in 2025, up 1.3% from 161,489,000 in 2024. They processed 163,024,000 returns, up 1.1% from the prior year.
For electronically filed returns:
- E-filing returns received: 150,811,000 in 2024 vs. 153,597,000 in 2025 (+1.8%).
- Returns e-filed by tax professionals: 84,780,000 in 2024 vs. 86,758,000 in 2025 (+2.3%).
- Self-prepared e-filed returns: 66,031,000 in 2024 vs. 66,839,000 in 2025 (+1.2%).
Additionally, visits to IRS.gov were slightly up, from 865,363,000 in 2024 to 868,140,000 in 2025 (+0.3%).
Here’s the table summarizing the key numbers:
| Return/Refund category | 2024 | 2025 | % change |
| Total returns received | 161,489,000 | 163,594,000 | 1.3 |
| Total returns processed | 161,260,000 | 163,024,000 | 1.1 |
| Total e-filed returns received | 150,811,000 | 153,597,000 | 1.8 |
| E-filed returns from tax pros | 84,780,000 | 86,758,000 | 2.3 |
| E-filed returns, self-prepared | 66,031,000 | 66,839,000 | 1.2 |
| Web usage, IRS.gov visits | 865,363,000 | 868,140,000 | 0.3 |
| Total number of refunds | 103,185,000 | 102,122,000 | -1.0 |
| Total amount refunded | $309.929 billion | $311.651 billion | 0.6 |
| Average refund amount | $3,004 | $3,052 | 1.6 |
| Total number of direct deposit refunds | 93,506,000 | 93,196,000 | -0.3 |
Key Takeaways
- Even though fewer refunds were issued, the average refund amount increased.
- The volume of returns filed and processed grew modestly, showing sustained demand for tax-filing services.
- E-filing continues to dominate, and the growth rate of tax pro-filed returns is higher than that of self-prepared.
- The slight increase in website visits indicates marginal growth in taxpayer engagement with online IRS resources.
Implications for Stakeholders
- For taxpayers: While more people are filing, your refund size may be slightly larger on average — but fewer people are receiving refunds overall compared to last year’s peak.
- For tax professionals: Growth in professional-e-filed returns (+2.3%) suggests continued opportunities for practitioners.
- For accounting and tax firms: The data may signal increased workload per return in some cases (if refund amounts are up) and highlight the importance of efficient e-filing and client-digital engagement.
- For policy makers and the IRS: The pattern of “fewer but bigger” refunds may reflect changes in tax law, withholding patterns, or taxpayer behaviour, which could be worth analysing further.
Conclusion
In summary, the IRS’s 2025 filing-season data tell a nuanced story: returns and processing are up modestly, refund counts are slightly down, but refunded amounts and average refunds are up. For tax practitioners and taxpayers alike, these trends underscore the importance of staying on top of e-filing workflows, client communication, and refund forecasting. As the tax landscape continues to evolve, these incremental shifts may signal larger behavioural or policy changes in future years.
