It’s officially Tax Day. If you already filed months ago, first off: Good for you. And secondly, you may have already received a pleasant surprise in the form of a slightly larger tax refund compared to last year. According to the most recent IRS report, over $211 billion has been refunded this cycle so far—a 5% increase over last year. On an individual basis, the average direct deposit refund amount is $3,186, up 3.2% from last year’s $3,088. But what’s driving these larger refunds?
Inflation adjustments boost refunds
The primary reason for the increase in tax refunds stems from the IRS’s annual inflation adjustments. For the 2024 tax year (filed in 2025), the IRS implemented significant increases to both standard deductions and tax brackets.
Standard deduction increases
The standard deduction—the amount taxpayers can subtract from their income before income tax is applied—saw notable increases:
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Single filers: $14,600 (up from $13,850 in tax year 2023)
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Married couples filing jointly: $29,200 (up from $27,700 in tax year 2023)
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Heads of household: $21,900 (up from $20,800 in tax year 2023)
Filers who are 65 or older or are blind may be eligible to claim an even higher standard deduction. For 2024, the amounts are:
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Single or head of household: an additional $1,950
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Married filing jointly: an additional $1,550
So for example, a 68-year-old single filer would claim a $16,550 standard deduction for tax year 2024. These increases mean that taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions (aka the vast majority of Americans) protect more of their income from taxation.
Tax bracket adjustments
In addition to higher standard deductions, the IRS also adjusted tax brackets for inflation. This adjustment effectively moved some taxpayers into lower tax brackets, reducing their overall tax burden even if their income increased slightly from the previous year.
What do you think so far?
What these adjustments mean for taxpayers
For many Americans, these adjustments have resulted in lower tax bills or higher refunds for the 2024 tax year. However, it’s worth noting that a larger refund isn’t necessarily a financial win—it means you’ve been giving the government an interest-free loan throughout the year.
Financial advisors often recommend adjusting your withholding if you consistently receive large tax refunds. This allows you to access more of your money throughout the year, potentially using it for investments or to pay down debt.
If you haven’t filed yet, today is the last day you can apply for an extension. Remember that it’s always better to file—even if you can’t pay what you owe—than not to file at all. The penalties for non-filing are substantially higher and can lead to much more serious consequences.
