Here's the Average Tax Refund in Every State

08/09/2024 Jose S Garcia

Table contents

Discover the average tax refund in every state and learn how to better plan for tax season.

Here's the Average Tax Refund in Every State

For most Americans, tax season means a nice refund. In 2019, 72% of Americans received a refund, and the average amount was $2869, according to the IRS.

You’ll typically receive a refund if your employer withheld too much from your paychecks or you didn’t claim deductions, credits, or exemptions you were eligible for. While receiving a chunk of change in the mail is a nice surprise, it typically means your paychecks were lower than they should have been. (You can learn more about how tax refunds work here.)

The average tax refund amount varies geographically. We took a look at the average refund by state based on 2018 data from the IRS.

Description: A graphic representation of tax refund data across different states.

Average Tax Refunds by State

Alabama
- Average refund: $2823
- Number of refunds: 1,641,355
- Total amount refunded: $4.6 billion
Alaska
- Average refund: $2852
- Number of refunds: 272,281
- Total amount refunded: $776 million
Arizona
- Average refund: $2702
- Number of refunds: 2,273,320
- Total amount refunded: $6.1 billion
Arkansas
- Average refund: $2755
- Number of refunds: 989,207
- Total amount refunded: $2.7 billion
California
- Average refund: $2946
- Number of refunds: 13,695,642
- Total amount refunded: $40.3 billion
Colorado
- Average refund: $2638
- Number of refunds: 2,038,705
- Total amount refunded: $5.4 billion

Tax return preparation Description: A person preparing their tax return documents.

Connecticut
- Average refund: $3091
- Number of refunds: 1,391,609
- Total amount refunded: $4.3 billion
Delaware
- Average refund: $2672
- Number of refunds: 365,650
- Total amount refunded: $977 million
District of Columbia
- Average refund: $2933
- Number of refunds: 276,107
- Total amount refunded: $810 million
Florida
- Average refund: $2989
- Number of refunds: 7,970,808
- Total amount refunded: $23.8 billion
Georgia
- Average refund: $2872
- Number of refunds: 3,634,835
- Total amount refunded: $10.4 billion
Hawaii
- Average refund: $2576
- Number of refunds: 538,247
- Total amount refunded: $1.4 billion

Happy family with tax refund Description: A happy family celebrating after receiving their tax refund.

Idaho
- Average refund: $2465
- Number of refunds: 570,460
- Total amount refunded: $1.4 billion
Illinois
- Average refund: $2916
- Number of refunds: 4,961,020
- Total amount refunded: $14.5 billion
Indiana
- Average refund: $2619
- Number of refunds: 2,585,870
- Total amount refunded: $6.8 billion
Iowa
- Average refund: $2650
- Number of refunds: 1,139,845
- Total amount refunded: $3 billion
Kansas
- Average refund: $2677
- Number of refunds: 1,039,631
- Total amount refunded: $2.8 billion
Kentucky
- Average refund: $2658
- Number of refunds: 1,586,406
- Total amount refunded: $4.2 billion
Louisiana
- Average refund: $3060
- Number of refunds: 1,596,890
- Total amount refunded: $4.9 billion

Couple planning tax refund usage Description: A couple planning how to use their tax refund.

Maine
- Average refund: $2362
- Number of refunds: 512,765
- Total amount refunded: $1.2 billion
Maryland
- Average refund: $2860
- Number of refunds: 2,317,650
- Total amount refunded: $6.6 billion
Massachusetts
- Average refund: $2877
- Number of refunds: 2,708,975
- Total amount refunded: $7.8 billion
Michigan
- Average refund: $2591
- Number of refunds: 3,771,890
- Total amount refunded: $9.8 billion
Minnesota
- Average refund: $2530
- Number of refunds: 2,113,803
- Total amount refunded: $5.3 billion
Mississippi
- Average refund: $2943
- Number of refunds: 1,011,987
- Total amount refunded: $3 billion
Missouri
- Average refund: $2613
- Number of refunds: 2,220,030
- Total amount refunded: $5.8 billion
Montana
- Average refund: $2394
- Number of refunds: 373,163
- Total amount refunded: $893 million
Nebraska
- Average refund: $2626
- Number of refunds: 712,383
- Total amount refunded: $1.9 billion
Nevada
- Average refund: $2807
- Number of refunds: 1,130,870
- Total amount refunded: $3.2 billion
New Hampshire
- Average refund: $2618
- Number of refunds: 559,241
- Total amount refunded: $1.5 billion
New Jersey
- Average refund: $3052
- Number of refunds: 3,485,255
- Total amount refunded: $10.6 billion
New Mexico
- Average refund: $2647
- Number of refunds: 722,010
- Total amount refunded: $1.9 billion
New York
- Average refund: $3099
- Number of refunds: 7,704,101
- Total amount refunded: $23.9 billion
North Carolina
- Average refund: $2638
- Number of refunds: 3,589,979
- Total amount refunded: $9.5 billion
North Dakota
- Average refund: $2831
- Number of refunds: 276,932
- Total amount refunded: $784 million
Ohio
- Average refund: $2540
- Number of refunds: 4,563,132
- Total amount refunded: $11.6 billion
Oklahoma
- Average refund: $2964
- Number of refunds: 1,291,633
- Total amount refunded: $3.8 billion
Oregon
- Average refund: $2426
- Number of refunds: 1,455,609
- Total amount refunded: $3.5 billion
Pennsylvania
- Average refund: $2655
- Number of refunds: 5,042,739
- Total amount refunded: $13.4 billion
Rhode Island
- Average refund: $2636
- Number of refunds: 436,927
- Total amount refunded: $1.2 billion
South Carolina
- Average refund: $2578
- Number of refunds: 1,722,707
- Total amount refunded: $4.4 billion
South Dakota
- Average refund: $2620
- Number of refunds: 321,822
- Total amount refunded: $843 million
Tennessee
- Average refund: $2749
- Number of refunds: 2,465,503
- Total amount refunded: $6.8 billion
Texas
- Average refund: $3203
- Number of refunds: 10,200,819
- Total amount refunded: $32.7 billion
Utah
- Average refund: $2685
- Number of refunds: 1,055,315
- Total amount refunded: $2.8 billion
Vermont
- Average refund: $2417
- Number of refunds: 253,641
- Total amount refunded: $613 million
Virginia
- Average refund: $2789
- Number of refunds: 3,116,831
- Total amount refunded: $8.7 billion
Washington
- Average refund: $2718
- Number of refunds: 2,774,701
- Total amount refunded: $7.5 billion
West Virginia
- Average refund: $2650
- Number of refunds: 640,359
- Total amount refunded: $1.7 billion
Wisconsin
- Average refund: $2438
- Number of refunds: 2,234,713
- Total amount refunded: $5.4 billion
Wyoming
- Average refund: $2997
- Number of refunds: 212,837
- Total amount refunded: $638 million

Happy tax season Description: A family celebrating during tax season.

Conclusion

Tax refunds vary widely from state to state. Understanding the average refund in your state can help you plan better for the upcoming tax season.

Featured Articles

Healths Insured Yesterday at 10:22 AM

How Easy Is It to Quote Insurance Through Health's Insured?

Discover how easy it is to quote insurance through Health's Insured. Get a fast, personalized insurance quote in minutes with no hidden fees or commitment.

Jeaholding, LLC: The Magic Behind Our Innovative Systems

Discover how Jeaholding, LLC’s innovative systems are transforming industries with cutting-edge technology. We are just One of them.