With the IRS continuing its 2025 refund distribution, many taxpayers are seeing their long-awaited deposits hit their bank accounts with an average refund of $3,186. Citizens who have filed their returns electronically and who have chosen the direct deposit option between April 14 and 20, will most likely receive their refunds between May 5 and May 11. For many Americans, this could prove to be a week of critical financial relief.
Who will get paid between May 5 and 11?
As per the IRS refund schedule, citizens who filed electronically and who have selected the direct deposit option, especially between April 14 and April 20, will now stand in line to receive their refunds. In most cases, the IRS processes tax returns within 10 to 21 days after acceptance, but some factors may cause slight further delays.
Those citizens who chose the paper filing option as well as citizens anticipating a check in the mail may see their refunds arriving more slowly. Payments, however, would have arrived in citizen’s bank accounts on Monday, May 5 if they filed their taxes by paper during late March. The IRS’s latest update states that citizens who mailed their return and requested a paper check will have to wait another two months before they see their refunds.
An approximate breakdown of refund timing would include:
- E-filing with direct deposit: 1-3 weeks
- E-filing with paper check: Up to 1 month
- Paper filing with direct deposit: Around 3 weeks
- Paper filing with paper check: Up to 8 weeks
Citizens also need to remember that this week’s round of payments will reflects the IRS’s ongoing efforts to process a surge of returns following the April 15 filing deadline. According to recent updates from the IRS, the agency has successfully managed to process the majority of returns that have been filed before or during mid-April.
Why would some refunds be delayed?
Refunds may not arrive on the same schedule and some taxpayers will face longer waiting periods, especially those who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC). These credits may require additional verification, and the IRS will have to apply extra scrutiny to prevent fraud, even when returns are otherwise accurate.
The main factors that influence possible refund delays may include:
- Complex returns that involve multiple income sources, home sales, or foreign assets.
- Filing errors as well as mismatched information on forms.
- Cases of outstanding debts to federal government in the form of unpaid taxes or student loans.
- Manual processing triggered by identification verification issues.
The best possible tools that citizens can rely on is the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go mobile app. These tools provide real-time updates on a citizen’s return processing status and estimated deposit date.
Some tips to speed up your refund
For those citizens who have been granted a tax deadline extension and are still waiting to file or for citizens who plan on updating and ammending their return, should use these tips to initiate a faster return:
- E-file their return using trusted tax software or a licensed preparer
- Opt for direct deposits using a trusted tax software or licensed preparer
- Double check all tax forms to avoid triggering manual reviews
- File early next season to avoid delays tied to the April 15 surge
Although the bulk of people would see faster results when choosing the e-filing and direct deposit options, citizens must also be aware that returns filed during peak season (especially a week or two before the tax deadline) tend to experience delays due to processing volumes.
How to react if you haven’t received your refund?
Citizens who have filed by the deadline but haven’t received their refunds should firstly consider whether they are claiming for any credits that could potentially delay their refund. If not, citizens need to act by visiting the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool so as to confirm that the return has been accepted and to see if there are any flags or requested documentation.
The IRS tax season statistics show that the expected average 2025 direct deposit refund is approximately $3,186 as per April 4 and this is surely a welcomed financial boost for many Americans.
