According to the IRS, the agency has received about 42.7 million tax returns and processed roughly 42.3 million as of Feb. 21. Now, it appears that the IRS might be planning anoth

Unemployment debt: The third type of debt that the IRS can use your tax refund to pay down, unemployment compensation debt racks up when you are, for whatever reason, overpaid when receiving unemployment payments and are required to pay back some or – yikes – all of the money you received.

While refunds are up, the number of people who’ve filed already is down compared to 2024. The IRS has received 42.7 million returns in 2025, down 4.2 percent compared to this time last year. Even with the number of returns not keeping pace with 2024, the total number of refunds issued so far (29.6 million) is up 2.3 percent.

Kaercher says that risks to the filing season could include delayed tax refunds, inability to answer as many phone calls or help lines, and “there’s a question of whether they retained the right people in house” to quickly solve technical issues should they arise during tax season.

If you have filed your 2024 tax return, here's a look at how you can track your Michigan, IRS refund, and how IRS firings may affect the timing.

While the Oscars may have their winners, many Americans are set to receive a more impactful reward: the 2025 Tax Refund. This financial boost, courtesy of the IRS, is a result of overpaid taxes and could be a significant benefit for eligible citizens.