Tax Refund Filing Strategies to Get Your Money Faster This Year

The 2026 tax filing season is well underway, and you'll want to submit your tax return as soon as possible, without mistakes, to avoid delays in your refund.

Experts say the earlier and more accurate you file, the faster you'll get your return. Once you submit your tax return electronically, it will take up to 21 days for the IRS to process your refund.

"Filing a complete and accurate return should always be the goal," said Enrolled Agent Kesha Dawson Harris. "The best time to file to receive [a fast refund] is when you have all your documents together, you have received all the income documents from all sources of income."

Even if a taxpayer files their 2025 tax returns now, anyone who claims the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit should expect to receive their refund sometime between mid-February and March 3. Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS holds refunds for taxpayers who claim EITC and ACTC for several weeks to detect and prevent errors and fraud.

This tax year is defined by the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which retroactively impacts all 2025 taxes. New and boosted tax credits and deductions, such as the "no tax on tips" and the "senior deduction," are expected to increase refunds for many taxpayers.

“This year’s tax refund season is shaping up to be bigger than usual. The new fiscal bill packed in a variety of tax cuts for consumers,” Heather Berger, U.S. Economist at Morgan Stanley, said on the financial services company's analysis podcast. “Overall, we’re expecting these changes to increase refunds by 15% to 20% on average.”

With thousands of layoffs at the IRS in 2025 and changes to the tax code from the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the 2026 filing season is expected to be marked by significant delays. Submitting your tax return early and with no mistakes will help you get your refund quickly.

To receive a refund quickly, taxpayers should ensure they have all their documents before beginning the filing process. If something is wrong on the tax return, such as the number of dependents or the amount of additional income received in 2025, it can take longer for the IRS to issue a refund.

"On average, I've seen refunds take seven to 14 days, said Dawson Harris. "But [sometimes refunds take] 21 days because there's an issue... Maybe there was a math error, or maybe there's a hold on your account because there's a debt that you owe."

Taxpayers can also file electronically to get a quick refund. If you mail in a paper return, it can take up to 6 weeks to receive your refund, compared to less than 3 weeks for an e-filed return.

Receiving refunds through a direct deposit is also the fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund. Taxpayers can provide their bank account information on their tax return to automatically set up direct deposit for their refund.