If you receive a tax refund of over $1,000, you might have paid too much in taxes throughout the year to the government. With inflation still too high and many of us living paycheck-to-paycheck or leaning on credit to get by, that tax refund might have been more helpful throughout the year.

With tax season underway, here's what you need to know about tracking your tax refund and your new 2025 tax brackets.

The 2025 tax season officially kicked off on Monday, when the Internal Revenue Service began accepting and processing individual income tax returns at 9 a.m. This means that you could be more likely to receive your tax refund sometime in February — if you file early.

If you're planning to use your 2025 tax refund to buy paper Series I savings bonds, you'll need a new strategy. As of 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has eliminated the option to buy paper I bonds through your tax refund.

The IRS began processing tax returns Monday. For filers who submit their returns electronically using direct deposit, refunds are generally issued in less than 21 days. There is a caution from the tax agency, however, that urges “taxpayers not to rely on receiving refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.