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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Mortgages for retirees and older adults
It can be tougher to qualify for a mortgage as a retiree. Here’s why, and how to bridge the gap.
7 min read Jan 16, 2026 -
4 ways to file your taxes for free in 2026
There are a handful of free options for filing your tax return, and many of them offer guided support to help you do it right.
3 min read Jan 15, 2026 -
When are 2025 taxes due? Here are the key tax deadlines you should know about
The deadline for filing your 2025 tax return is April 15, 2026, or Oct. 15 with an extension.
5 min read Jan 15, 2026 -
Best IRA accounts in 2026
If you’re looking to save for retirement, an IRA is a great place to start. Here are the best places to open an IRA account.
10 min read Dec 24, 2025 -
8 ways to take penalty-free withdrawals from your IRA or 401(k)
Need your retirement money early? Here’s when you can avoid the penalty.
7 min read Dec 22, 2025 -
IRA required minimum distribution (RMD) table for 2025 and 2026
If you’ve reached age 73, you must start taking RMDs. Use this table as a guide.
3 min read Dec 16, 2025 -
What is a robo-advisor? How it works, how much it costs, and pros and cons
A robo-advisor is an automated investment manager that simplifies the investing process — and costs much less than a financial advisor.
4 min read Dec 12, 2025 -
2024-2025 tax brackets and federal income tax rates
Knowing your federal income tax bracket can help you manage your money better. Here are the federal tax brackets and income tax rates for 2025 and 2024.
8 min read Dec 05, 2025
