Tax season continued its sluggish start into early February, but tax refunds continued to steadily roll out the door. Every tax season has its own quirks and nuances. Oddly enough, though,

In early February 2025, claims emerged that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, had terminated, or planned to terminate, a program — Direct File — run by the IRS that allows (some) citizens to file individual tax returns for free:

Taxes filed online should receive a refund in about a month or less from the filing date, according to the IRS. The agency says that to process your refund, it usually takes up to 21 days for an e-filed return, or longer for amended returns and returns sent by mail.