For a typical tax return - submitted electronically and using direct deposit – filers can expect a refund within 21 days, barring any other issues. The Internal Revenue Service said people who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit will have to wait longer for their refunds. The act prevents the IRS from issuing EITC/ACTC refunds before mid-February, even if the return is processed the day tax season opened (Jan. 26 in 2026). For qualifying filers, EITC provides up to $649 for those with no children to $8,046 for filers with three or more children. The maximum Child Tax Credit is $2,200 per qualifying child under age 17 with up to $1,700 of that refundable as the Additional Child Tax Credit.