The average tax refund each year, and how tax refunds work
The average tax refund in 2025 was $3,167, but refunds are expected to jump higher in 2026. Here’s what you need to know.
3 min read
Jan 29, 2026
Andrea Coombes, CFP®
Former Editor
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25Years of experience
CREDENTIALS
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
EXPERTISE
- Investing
- Real estate
- Personal finance
- Tax planning and strategy
- Saving for retirement
EDUCATION
- University of California, Berkeley; B.A. in Sociology
- University of California, Berkeley; Master’s in Journalism
- University of California, Berkeley, Extension; Certificate in Personal Financial Planning
Andrea Coombes, a former editor at Bankrate, translates complex personal finance topics into understandable language that helps people live their best financial lives. She’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and over the past 25 years has worked as a financial coach, personal finance writer and editor, and volunteer tax preparer.
Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch and many newspapers nationwide. She's been interviewed on local and national TV and radio, including NPR's All Things Considered, CBS News, NASDAQ and Marketplace.
Andrea has moderated panels on how to invest for retirement, how to use 529 college savings plans and more, and she's an experienced personal-finance speaker who has presented to groups on a variety of topics such as how to budget, improve credit, manage debt, and build savings. She's also worked as a personal financial coach and certified consumer credit counselor, helping people reach their goals. For two tax seasons, she worked as a volunteer tax preparer.
Andrea beyond Bankrate
A lot of people are nervous about managing their money. I'm here to say: It's not rocket science. There are small steps each of us can take to slowly start moving towards our long-term financial goals. We can do this, people.
— Andrea Coombes, CFP®
Andrea's latest articles
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Public app review 2026
Public offers a number of key features that investors will like, including fractional shares, direct indexing, and easy access to crypto and bonds.
4 min read Jan 23, 2026 -
Short-term vs. long-term capital gains: How to trim your tax bill
It pays to know the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains.
6 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
Origination fee: What it is and how to lower your mortgage costs
Here’s how much origination fees usually cost, and how to negotiate to save money.
5 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
Best brokers for buying fractional shares
The ability to buy fractional shares is a huge benefit for investors. Here are the best brokers for fractional share investing.
5 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
Roth IRA rules you should know during tax season — and all year long
There are a lot of reasons to love Roth IRAs, but the tax rules governing them are complex. Here’s what you should know.
7 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
401(k) contribution limits for 2026
The 401(k)’s generous contribution limits can help you achieve a successful retirement.
6 min read Jan 22, 2026 -
How to open a Roth IRA: 5 steps to set up and invest your retirement account
The sooner you open a Roth IRA, the sooner you can start growing your tax-free retirement portfolio. Here are 5 easy steps to get started.
10 min read Jan 21, 2026 -
What is a Roth IRA? How they work, contribution limits and who can open one
Here’s what you need to know about Roth IRAs, including contribution and income limits, and all the perks that make the Roth IRA so popular.
6 min read Jan 16, 2026
