A significant part of the U.S. population has already spent their IRS tax refund 2025, but a different part of the population is still waiting for their money and why the refund payments have not reached them continues to be their questions. Despite the fact that refunds are inching up this year, the fact that people are experiencing delays and not receiving the money is still a major concern. Here is an update on the situation for those of us who are still waiting for the money and the latest statistic about the direction of IRS distribution.
Refunds Are Larger in 2025 But Not for Everyone
Per statistics from the United States Internal Revenue Service, this year’s IRS refund payment to a person on the average rose in comparison with the last year amount. On average, the sum of money that was automatically deposited in bank accounts increased to $3,034, which was only a small but considerable rise from the $2,960 seen last year. Across all modes of payment the average refund amount is now $2,939 compared to $2,869, making a 2.4%–2.5% increase overall.
This increase corresponds to the announcement of the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025, which leads to a conclusion that there is a general tendency of the federal to fight with the increase in rates. The vast majority got more money than they expected, still, the opposite side suffered on account of the mentioned problems in the returns processing step of their refund.
What to Do If Your IRS Refund Is Missing
Even though the IRS’s goal is to have all refunds sent to the taxpayers in 21 days, some refunds will be examined more thoroughly so they may take more time with the paper process or if there are any inconsistencies present. With the new E-file and direct deposit policies, taxpayers can have their money their direct deposited account within only 8 days, if everything is accurate.
If your refund is not here yet, the IRS says you can use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the site or download the IRS2Go mobile app. Both possibilities can tell you whether you are going to receive your money back. In case the inquiry shows that the refund has been given but the bank has not processed it yet, it will take from 5 to 10 business days for the funds to come through.
If you haven’t received your refund within 5 days, it may have been delivered to the wrong address, lost or stolen. In the event of theft, the IRS provides a lost or stolen refund trace process. This would help to figure out if the check was ever cashed or was the money actually put into your bank account.
Steps to Make a Refund Trace Request
Before going ahead with their investigation, make sure that there are no mistakes in your tax return and that the expected processing time for refunds has expired. To begin the trace process, you will have to call the IRS refund hotline, (800-829-1954). You can talk to an agent directly or go through the automated system.
You have to use different procedures to request a refund trace based on your filing status. Couples filing together will have to fill out Form 3911 and mail it in, while single, head of household, or married filing separately filers can utilize online tools or call the number. As soon as you become aware of something wrong with your refund, you should act.
Early Filing and E-Filing Still Have Their Benefits
In 2025, the IRS has received more than 145 million tax returns already, which is a small increase of 1.3% over last year. Of these, more than 143 million refunds have been issued so far, thanks in large part to the electronic filing of tax returns. E-file usage has increased by 1.5%. This has considerably reduced mistakes and the time it takes to get a refund.
If you submitted your papers at the beginning of June, the following is a sample of the deposit dates to expect:
- June 1 is the date of sending the return: The earliest deposit date is June 22
- June 5 is the date of sending the return: The money should be in your account on June 26
- June 9 is the date of sending the return: Your deposit is to be reached by June 30
Even if you have a much better IRS refund in the 2025 tax year or are still waiting for the money to hit your account, you need to know all the details. The IRS offers a variety of tools including mobile tracking and electronic filing for taxpayers to be able to navigate the tax season and refund tracing options. Knowing the right time to do things or when it is better to leave the things as they are can be key points in your favor to get your money back soon.
