How To Get Tax Refunds Legally

Revised: September 2026

A tax refund is money you overpaid during the year, coming back to you. The IRS reports an average refund of $3,273 through May 1, 2026, up from $2,947 a year earlier. You can’t create a bigger refund out of nothing, but you can make sure you claim every deduction and credit you qualify for and stop giving the government an interest-free loan through extra withholding.

The figures below are for tax year 2025 (returns filed in 2026) unless noted. Tax rules change often, so check IRS.gov or a tax professional before you file.

Get your withholding right

Your W-4 tells your employer how much tax to take from each paycheck. Too much means a bigger refund but smaller paychecks all year. Too little means a bill in April.

The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator uses your pay stub and last return to suggest the right withholding and produces a pre-filled W-4 you can give your employer. Run it again after a raise, a new job, marriage, or a new child.

Standard deduction or itemizing

You can take the standard deduction or itemize, whichever is larger. For 2025 the standard deduction is:

$15,750 for single filers
$31,500 for married couples filing jointly
$23,625 for heads of household

For 2026 those rise to $16,100, $32,200, and $24,150.

Itemizing only helps when your deductions, such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes, charitable gifts, and large medical expenses, add up to more than the standard deduction. For most households they don’t. If you think yours might, keep receipts all year.

Claim the credits you qualify for

A credit cuts your tax bill dollar for dollar, and some credits are refundable, meaning you can get money back even if you owe no tax.

Child Tax Credit: up to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2025. Up to $1,700 of it is refundable if you have at least $2,500 of earned income. The full credit is available up to $200,000 of income ($400,000 for joint filers).
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): for workers with low to moderate income. The maximum for 2025 is $8,046 with three or more qualifying children, and $8,231 for 2026. Many eligible people never claim it.
Education credits: the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits help with tuition and related costs.

New deductions starting with 2025 returns

The 2025 tax law added several deductions that apply to tax years 2025 through 2028. You claim them on Schedule 1-A, and you can take them whether or not you itemize:

Tips: deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips.
Overtime: deduct the extra “half” portion of overtime pay, up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers).
Seniors: people 65 and older can deduct an extra $6,000.

The tips and overtime deductions phase out above $150,000 of modified adjusted gross income ($300,000 for joint filers).

Save for retirement and health costs

Traditional IRA: contributions may be deductible, and you can make them up to the tax filing deadline for the prior year. The limit is $7,000 for 2025 and $7,500 for 2026, with a higher limit if you’re 50 or older.
401(k): pre-tax contributions lower your taxable income. The limit is $23,500 for 2025 and $24,500 for 2026.
Health Savings Account (HSA): if you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan, your contributions are deductible and qualified medical withdrawals are tax-free.

Our guide to tax-advantaged accounts beyond the 401(k) covers more options.

Track side-hustle expenses

If you earn gig or freelance income, you can deduct ordinary and necessary business costs such as supplies, a share of your phone, and business mileage. Keep receipts and a mileage log. You’ll also owe self-employment tax on your net earnings, so set some of each payment aside.

File for free

IRS Free File: free guided software if your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less. Free File Fillable Forms are available at any income.
VITA and TCE: free in-person tax help from IRS-certified volunteers. VITA generally serves people who make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, and people with limited English. TCE focuses on taxpayers 60 and older. Find a site with the IRS locator or by calling 800-906-9887.

Don’t leave old refunds behind

If you didn’t file for a year when you were owed money, you generally have three years from the original due date to file and claim that refund. After that, the money stays with the Treasury.

Watch out for refund promises

Be wary of preparers who promise a bigger refund than others, base their fee on the size of your refund, or ask you to sign a blank return. You’re responsible for everything on your return, even if someone else prepares it.

Sources

This article is general education, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Your situation may differ, so check the details with the lender, agency, or a qualified professional before you act. How we research and review articles.