The data is in: More Americans received tax refunds in 2019 but checks were leaner

[Omaha Steve]

By Heather Long / The Washington Post 14 hrs ago

The first tax filing season under President Donald Trump's new tax law is over and the results show that slightly more Americans received tax refunds but the checks were smaller.

The average refund this year was $2,725, down $55 from last year, according to data released Wednesday by the Internal Revenue Service that includes every return filed by the deadline.

Many Americans lashed out at Trump and Republicans on social media as they filed tax returns and realized they would receive a lower refund than they obtained last year. Americans have come to love tax refunds, viewing them almost like a bonus, even though all it means is that a person overpaid their taxes during the year and is now receiving that extra amount back.

Financial experts advise people not to get refunds because it just means someone loaned the federal government money for awhile. But IRS data show that the vast majority of tax filers -- 73.2 percent (nearly 96 million people) -- received refunds this filing season, a slight increase from 73.1 percent who received refunds during the 2018 tax filing season.

FULL story: https://www.omaha.com/news/trending/the-data-is-in-more-americans-received-tax-refunds-in/article_d0a8412b-b80b-5fdd-83cd-2553e0845f5f.html

[dhol82]

1. My taxes went up significantly

But then, I live in a blue state.

[mrsv]

2. My hubby and I

paid for the first time. We've been married 30 years and I'm retired!!!