IRS releases 2025 tax filing season refund data showing more filers received refunds at higher average amounts
As of mid-April 2025, the IRS had received over 140 million tax returns, with approximately 90.4 million filers owed refunds. The average refund rose to roughly $3,275-$3,400 compared to $2,942 the prior year, a jump attributed partly to new deductions for tips, overtime, car loan interest, and seniors. Total refunds paid out reached $296 billion, up 17% from the prior filing season.
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Divergence score
2 outlets covered it, splitting into 2 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
2 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 2 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CNN
The Hill
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
CNN
Americans' taxes by the numbers
refunds up but below Treasury projections
The Hill
How Americans are spending their tax refunds
record refund season consumer angle
First to report
- CNNfirst
- The Hill+11.5 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
CNN notes the average refund of $3,275 was well below the $1,000 increase Treasury had projected, while The Hill leads with a record tax refund framing using the Treasury's own higher $3,400 figure without flagging the shortfall.
How each outlet covered it
Lightly covered so far
Too few outlets to map a left-right split. Here is each take as it stands.
Sparse coverage · 2 outlets
“How Americans are spending their tax refunds”
“Americans' taxes by the numbers”
7 tracked claims across 2 outlets
Fact ledger
All7Disputed1Claimed5Corroborated1
1/2
Disputed
The average refund amount was higher than previous estimates
Corroborated
Disputed
6 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger