Receiving atax refundis one highlight most filers can look forward to during tax season.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans receive a tax refund each year.
Many filers are using refunds to pay bills, debt, rent or their mortgage.
About one in six taxpayers are also using the money to fund emergency savings.
Retail and tech purchases, often common uses for tax refunds, are not popular with filers this year.
Audits occur as a result of suspicious activity flagged on your tax return.
“There’s no reason to beat yourself up over an honest mistake,” he said.
“There are procedures in place to address such situations.”
All theonline tax servicesreviewed by CNET have maximum refund and tax accuracy guarantees.
Online filing software has also become much better at catching real-time mistakes.
For more complicated tax situations or filing status changes, you may want to contact a certified tax professional.
Others turn to social media apps like Instagram and TikTok for tax advice.
I often come across videos of tax professionals debunking inaccurate advice provided on Instagram and TikTok.
AI can be a great tool, but it’s not perfect.
Always double-check information that a chatbot provides you.
However, another 33% told CNET they don’t know if they qualify for free tax filing.
There are several ways to qualify for free tax filing, even through IRS-offered programs.
You might also qualify to file for free withIRS Direct File, a newer offering available in 25 states.
Mostonline tax software providersin 2025also have free tiersyou can take advantage of.
I used this service to file my taxes this year.
In reality, Bowman said modern tax preparation software does an amazing job of guiding you through the process.
Less popular are options to spend tax refunds on leisure purchases.
Only 7% said they would use IRS refunds to fund a vacation.
You might count on your tax return to fund personal money goals each year.
Methodology
CNET commissioned YouGov Plc to conduct the survey.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.
The total sample size was 1,055 adults, of which 877 plan to file a tax return.
Fieldwork was undertaken between Feb. 18-19, 2025.
The survey was carried out online.
The figures have been weighted and represent all US adults (aged 18 plus).
It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party.
However, we may receive compensation when you press links to products or services offered by our partners.
