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A tax refund is the amount of money returned to taxpayers by the government when they have paid more taxes than they owe. The size of a tax refund varies depending on various factors, including income, deductions, credits, and individual circumstances.
In addition to federal income tax, many U.S. states also have their own individual income tax systems. Taxpayers who live in states with income taxes may receive both federal and state tax refunds, depending on their tax liabilities and payments.
According to the latest IRS data, the average federal tax refund is $2,727, but the payouts vary by U.S. state.
Below is the map created by howmuch.net that shows how much does the average person gets back on their taxes.
According to the map, Texans took home the smallest refunds in 2017, averaging $2,336 per taxpayer, while Mainers took home the biggest ones, averaging $3,206.
State
Average refund ($)
Number of refunds
Total income tax refunded ($ B)
TEXAS
3.206
10,087,693
32.3
LOUISIANA
3.115
1,611,412
5.0
CONNECTICUT
3.099
1,396,609
4.3
OKLAHOMA
3.098
1,300,577
4.0
NEW YORK
3.059
7,712,210
23.6
NEW JERSEY
3.013
3,479,321
10.5
WYOMING
2.989
214.649
0.6
NORTH DAKOTA
2.983
277.422
0.8
FLORIDA
2.933
7,854,538
23.0
MISSISSIPPI
2.922
1,018,429
3.0
CALIFORNIA
2.911
13,594,703
39.5
WASHINGTON DC
2.9
277.399
0.8
ILLINOIS
2.9
4,973,653
14.4
MARYLAND
2.861
2,329,288
6.7
MASSACHUSETTS
2.85
2,704,250
7.7
ALASKA
2.843
276.887
0.8
NEVADA
2.83
1,111,952
3.0
GEORGIA
2.832
3,606,774
10.2
ALABAMA
2.802
1,650,125
4.6
VIRGINIA
2.771
3,129,030
8.7
ARKANSAS
2.759
989.288
2.7
TENNESSEE
2.726
2,465,816
6.7
UTAH
2.681
1,033,141
2.8
WASHINGTON
2.681
2,749,362
7.4
ARIZONA
2.672
2,244,925
6.0
KANSAS
2.665
1,044,275
2.8
NEW MEXICO
2.657
724.549
1.9
SOUTH DAKOTA
2.651
321.372
0.9
WEST VIRGINIA
2.649
649.049
1.7
KENTUCKY
2.648
1,590,274
4.2
DELAWARE
2.648
365.749
1.0
RHODE ISLAND
2.643
436.49
1.1
PENNSYLVANIA
2.643
5,071,264
13.4
COLORADO
2.636
2,014,233
5.3
NORTH CAROLINA
2.629
3,580,471
9.4
NEBRASKA
2.615
711.103
1.8
INDIANA
2.612
2,577,994
6.7
IOWA
2.602
1,141,151
3.0
NEW HAMPSHIRE
2.602
558.359
1.4
MISSOURI
2.601
2,220,029
5.7
SOUTH CAROLINA
2.569
1,719,299
4.4
HAWAII
2.564
535.763
1.4
MICHIGAN
2.56
3,776,668
9.7
OHIO
2.517
4,570,589
11.5
MINNESOTA
2.516
2,112,212
5.3
IDAHO
2.457
561.133
1.4
WISCONSIN
2.436
2,236,886
5.4
MONTANA
2.401
372.817
0.9
OREGON
2.398
1,431,924
3.4
VERMONT
2.392
254.192
0.6
MAINE
2.336
509.896
1.2
For tax year 2022, the average refund nationwide was $3,745.
District of Columbia had the highest average federal refund ($2,452.07).
Idaho was at the bottom of the list for refunds. Taxpayers in this state got back an average of $1,554.54.
To learn more about taxes, have a look at the following books and software:
You realize a tax “refund” is an interest free loan you gave the government for a year … you are wiser if your refund is near zero as to a big refund. A refund means you don’t know how to fill out your W-2.
Alex E
5 years ago
More withholding than is necessary.
More entrepreneurs v. hourly wage and salary earners.
You realize a tax “refund” is an interest free loan you gave the government for a year … you are wiser if your refund is near zero as to a big refund. A refund means you don’t know how to fill out your W-2.
More withholding than is necessary.
More entrepreneurs v. hourly wage and salary earners.