Florida Tops U.S. with Record $4,433 Average Tax Refunds

Florida has surged to the top of national tax refund rankings with an average refund of $4,433 after inflation adjustments, according to an Upgraded Points analysis of the latest IRS data.[1][2] Out of more than 11.1 million federal returns filed in the state, 67.1% resulted in refunds, totaling about 7.5 million checks for filers.[1][2] The report, which examines trends by state, county, and income, pegs the national average refund at $3,571 for 2026, with 72.9% of taxpayers receiving one.[2] Texas trails closely in second place at $4,344 per refund from 13.6 million returns, where 71.3% of filers got money back.[1][2] Wyoming ranks third with $4,282 across 280,750 returns and a 68.8% refund rate, followed by Nevada at $4,193 from 1.6 million returns with 69.6% receiving refunds.[2] Louisiana rounds out the top five at $4,117, issuing 1.4 million refunds from nearly 2 million returns for a 73% rate, the third-highest nationally.[1][2] Refunds scale sharply with income nationwide: filers under $50,000 averaged $2,766, with 77% getting refunds and near-universal participation among the lowest earners at 99.3%.[1] Middle-income groups earning $50,000 to $100,000 saw $3,211 averages but only 68.3% refunds, while $100,000 to $200,000 filers averaged $4,820 with 55.4% receiving them.[1] High earners above $200,000 commanded $17,668 averages, though just 35% got refunds, with many applying overpayments to future taxes.[1] At the county level, Florida's Collier County, encompassing Naples on the Gulf Coast, posted a whopping $7,674 average refund, with 56.6% of 214,600 filers receiving one.[1][2] Summit County, Utah, led counties nationwide at $8,481 from 13,940 refunds out of 25,000 returns.[1] These disparities underscore how no-state-income-tax policies in places like Florida and Texas may amplify federal refund sizes by shifting tax burdens.[1][2] Florida State Senator Ashley Moody touted the rankings as a win for her Working Families Tax Cuts package, stating it keeps 'hard-earned dollars in the pockets of workers, families, and businesses.'[3] The data, drawn from IRS filings, reflects overpayments from withholdings exceeding liabilities, a trend affecting three-quarters of filers nationally at nearly $3,600 on average.[1]