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According to the IRS, the average refund for US taxpayers in 2025 was $3,052. The good news is that this number is expected to grow by an average of 15% to 20% in 2026, CNBC reports.
If you’re waiting for your tax refund to make some financial moves, you’ll want to make sure you don’t make any mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars. GOBankingRates consulted with a tax accountant to learn about the filing mistake that could cost people their refund and reduce their 2026 refund.
filing your taxes too early
“One mistake I see over and over again is people getting impatient and filing before all of their documents are due,” said certified public accountant (CPA) and founder LaRon Ballard. Hill Town Consultants. “Everyone knows to expect a W-2 from work, but what about a 1099-INT from your savings account or your brokerage statement?”
He said it’s easy to overlook these documents and they don’t always arrive at the same time. Although you’re excited about the prospect of getting a big refund this year, you don’t want to hurt your chances of getting paid quickly.
The biggest problem with rushing to file before everything is confirmed is that it may delay your refund. Ballard said it’s even more painful in 2026, given the IRS processing backlog we’re seeing now. If your refund is delayed, you will not have access to the funds, which could harm your finances, especially if you were dependent on this money. If you were dependent on these funds, you may be forced to use credit cards or take out short-term loans. Either way, delay can worsen your financial situation.
In the worst case, you could trigger an IRS adjustment where you’ll owe money you weren’t expecting. In this case, you go from expecting to receive thousands of dollars to trying to figure out how you will pay your taxes.
How can you avoid this mistake?
Ballard advised that before you click submit, compare what you filed last year with the amount you received this year. If something is missing, wait for it to arrive before filing your taxes. It would be better for you to wait a few more weeks for all your documents to arrive so that you don’t get stuck dealing with delays. If you’re in a hurry to file your taxes, you can also log into your various investment accounts to see if tax documents are available to be printed.
You also save money by waiting because you won’t have to pay a tax professional to review your tax return. The goal should be to file your taxes when you have everything in order, so you can be assured that you will get the best possible refund in 2026.