Here's Exactly Why Your 2026 Tax Refund Could Be MUCH Larger Than You Expect

By Matt Frankel, CFP – Jan 12, 2026 at 3:21PM EST

The IRS just announced the start of tax season, and many Americans could get big refund checks.

The IRS will formally start processing tax returns on Jan. 26, and the millions of Americans expecting a tax refund have some new reasons to be excited. In this video, I'll discuss the start of tax season, when refunds will start arriving, and several reasons your tax refund might be bigger than last year's.

*Stock prices used were the morning prices of Jan. 9, 2026. The video was published on Jan. 10, 2026.

Matt Frankel, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst and personal finance expert covering financial stocks, REITs, SPACs, and personal finance. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

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@MattFrankelCFP

Here's Exactly Why Your 2026 Tax Refund Could Be MUCH Larger Than You Expect

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