Some taxpayers who are still waiting for their federal tax refunds could finally receive their money this month, even though the 2025 tax filing season ended weeks ago.
The Internal Revenue Service generally issues refunds within about 21 days for electronically filed returns. Paper returns can take longer, while amended returns and filing corrections may further delay processing. As a result, most taxpayers who filed by the April 15 deadline should have already received their refunds.
However, two groups of taxpayers are more likely to receive refunds in June: those who filed later due to extensions and those whose refunds were delayed because of missing banking information.
Delayed Filers
Many taxpayers received additional time to file because of disaster-related IRS extensions.
For example, taxpayers affected by storms, flooding and the remnants of Typhoon Halong in parts of Alaska had until May 1, 2026, to file certain returns and make payments. Similar extensions were granted to some taxpayers in Montana and Washington state following severe weather events. Additional filing relief also remains available for certain residents in Mississippi, Hawaii and Georgia.
Taxpayers who filed under these extended deadlines may still be waiting for refunds because their returns were submitted weeks after the standard April 15 filing deadline.
Another group that may receive refunds in June includes taxpayers whose refunds were temporarily frozen because they did not provide banking information for direct deposit. Under IRS rules introduced for the 2026 filing season, refunds can be placed on hold until taxpayers update their banking details or request payment by paper check.
In a March letter, Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.) said more than 1.4 million taxpayers had their refunds delayed because they failed to provide banking information. The lawmakers warned that some taxpayers had already waited more than two months and that paper-check recipients could face delays exceeding 10 weeks.
In a January 2026 advisory updated in April, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service said refunds could be temporarily frozen until taxpayers provide banking information or request payment by paper check. Some affected taxpayers may already have received notices directing them to update their direct deposit information.
Bigger Refunds
The delays come during a filing season marked by larger refunds. According to analysis of IRS filing season statistics published in April, the average refund reached $3,462 as of April 3, up 11.1% from $3,116 a year earlier. Total refunds issued had reached approximately $241.7 billion, compared with $211.1 billion at the same point last year.
IRS Chief Executive Frank Bisignano said the agency processed 120 million tax returns and issued 80 million refunds this season, with total refund amounts rising roughly 11% year over year.
Taxpayers can monitor the status of their refunds through the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Refund status is generally available within 24 hours for electronic filers and within four weeks for paper returns.
The refund delays also come amid broader debate over how Americans file their taxes. In April, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) renewed efforts to revive the IRS’s Direct File program, a free government-run tax filing service that was discontinued for the 2026 filing season. Warren argued the program made filing easier and cheaper for taxpayers, while the Trump administration said private-sector alternatives could serve taxpayers more efficiently.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
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