I am Kelly Phillips Erb, a senior writer covering tax at u/forbes and a tax attorney who works with taxpayers like you every day. You may have seen me around the web as Taxgirl.
As of March 6, 2026—the latest filing season data from the IRS—60,719,000 taxpayers have filed individual income tax returns. Earlier this year, the IRS predicted that it would receive 164 million individual income tax returns—that means that over 100 million taxpayers are still expected to file. Are you one of them?
If so, there is some good news. The average refund is now $3,676, compared with $3,324 at this point last year—an increase of 10.6%.
One reason for the boost? The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which took effect in mid-2025 and expanded several tax benefits, including a higher standard deduction, larger child tax credits, and those confusing new temporary deductions, including “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime.” Some taxpayers may be waiting to file because they’re trying to make sense of those changes.
If this is the first time you're filing a federal income tax return—or your 50th, but you feel like you need a refresher—here’s your opportunity to ask me anything about tax.
You can also check out some of our stories about the 2026 tax season that might be useful:
- Forbes Last Minute Tax Guide: How To Navigate The Changes On Your 2025 Return
- Direct File Is Gone. Here’s How You Can Still File Your Taxes For Free
- Why Your Tax Refund Could Be Bigger In 2026—And What Else You Need To Know
- Choosing The Right Filing Status For Your 2025 Tax Return
- How The New Overtime Deduction Works And Who Is Eligible To Claim It
- The 10 Most Serious Problems Taxpayers Have With The IRS
- What College Students (And Parents) Need To Know Before Filing 2025 Taxes
- Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable This Year?
I’ll be answering questions about filing your individual tax return from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT. Proof.
[link] [comments]