Even though the 2025 tax season has only been open less than two full weeks, the IRS has already been busy processing tax returns and issuing tax refunds. Not mine — I'm still a ways away from sitting down with my W-2 forms and the 1040 instructions and a calculator and all that.

The IRS has issued 3.2 million refunds for the 2025 filing season so far. As of Jan. 31, the average refund amount was $1,928, which covers the first four days of the filing season. The agency sends most refunds in less than 21 days.