For Many Americans, a Tax Refund Is a Useful Financial Planning Tool

It’s tax time, and for more than two-thirds of Americans, their tax refund is the single largest payment they’ll receive all year.

Last year, approximately 80 percent of all tax returns resulted in the issuance of a refund, and the Internal Revenue Service estimated the average tax refund was approximately $3,100. For most Americans, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck, that sum represents a substantial financial windfall—bigger than most paychecks and almost four months’ worth of groceries for a typical family.

Keep in mind these refunds are a direct result of overpaying Uncle Sam, in which case a conversation between the employee and their human resources department about making an adjustment to withholdings would allow the employee to have more money throughout the year. For some, however, a tax refund can act as a forced savings mechanism.

Read more: For Many Americans, a Tax Refund Is a Useful Financial Planning Tool | ABA Banking Journal