Any good news from the IRS is welcome these days, and the agency provided some last week. As of mid-February, it was ahead of last year’s pace both in terms of processing returns and the refund amounts it has issued.
By Vance Cariaga
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The average refund this tax season was $3,590 through Feb. 18, 2022, the IRS reported — up 23% from $2,920 during a similar period last year. The total number of refunds grew 33% to 22.1 million, while the total number of direct deposit refunds increased 36% to 21.8 million.
The total number of returns received was up 3.5% to 35.9 million, and the total number of returns processed had risen 12% to 33.5 million — a key stat, considering that the IRS has been playing catch-up on a huge backlog of unprocessed returns for much of the past year.
The average refund amount surprised experts who expect lower refunds this year for families who received the advance child tax credit, borrowers who paused student loan payments and investors with large mutual fund payouts, CNBC reported.
See: Taxes 2021 –– How the Child Tax Credit and Student Loans Could Reduce Your Total Refund
It should also be noted that last year’s tax season got off to a late start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 filing season began Feb. 12, 2021, the IRS said, and the filing deadline was May 17, 2021.
The IRS issues most refunds within 21 days of returns being filed, but you could face a delay if you file a paper return instead of an online return, and if you have inaccurate information on the return.
“We urge extra attention to those who received an economic impact payment or an advance child tax credit last year,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement. “People should make sure they report the correct amount on their tax return to avoid delays.”
