Who Qualifies for a Tax Refund?

Are you preparing to file taxes for the first time and feeling uncertain about whether you will need to pay taxes or if you might qualify for a tax refund? The IRS reported to Congress that in 2025, about 104 million taxpayers received a tax refund, and 63% of taxpayers received a refund, with an average refund amount of $3,167. While $3,167 may be the average, some of the largest refunds are received by high-income taxpayers.

According to the Tax Policy Center, in 2026 the share of households paying no federal income tax was 37.4%.

What Is a Tax Refund?

A tax refund occurs when a filer shows that he or she has paid more in income taxes than he or she owes. It depends on the difference between the tax owed to the Treasury at the end of the year and the amount withheld throughout the year. If the amount of tax owed is less than the latter number, that individual receives a tax refund.

What Income Level Requires You To File a Tax Return?

Nearly all U.S. citizens and permanent residents working in the United States must file a tax return. If you're uncertain about whether you need to file, it's generally advised to do so if your income is above the gross low-income level threshold.

Here's the income level below which you're not required to file — though filing anyway may still get you a refund.

While individuals who earn less than the gross low-income level aren't required to file taxes, it is recommended that they do in the event that they may be eligible for a tax refund.

This is because many tax credits are what's known as "refundable". These include the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC). According to the IRS, 24 million eligible workers received approximately $70 billion in EITC as of December 2025.

People who file do not need to have earned income or had any taxes withheld to receive one of these credits, and if there is no tax due, they are eligible to have the credit applied to a refund. Those wishing to take advantage of this must file an income tax return to collect it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Eligible for a Tax Refund?

All filers are eligible to receive a tax refund, as it simply indicates that more was paid toward a bill than was necessary. When the government owes less than what has already been paid or qualified for, a taxpayer will receive a federal or state tax refund for the difference, regardless of their adjusted gross income.

How Do You Check EITC Eligibility?

The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers and families. Those eligible for the EITC must meet certain requirements. The IRS offers an easy-to-use eligibility quiz called the EITC Assistant to check whether you are eligible for the EITC.

Requirements include having earned income, a valid Social Security number, and proof of specific income thresholds.

How Soon Do You Get Your Tax Refund After Filing?

How quickly you receive your tax refund often depends on the way you filed your return with the IRS. If you filed electronically via E-file, you usually receive your tax refund within 21 days. If you mailed in a paper return, however, it could take much longer. The IRS states that it can take between six and eight weeks to issue refunds for paper returns.

If you haven't received your refund within these timeframes, it could mean your return included mistakes. In less common instances, a delayed refund may indicate potential identity theft or fraud, or that your return requires further review.

How Do I Check the Status of My Refund?

You can check the status of a refund with the IRS's Where's My Refund tool. Updates are made every 24 hours, so you can check your status daily.