Average American expects this much money from their 2023 tax refund

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY'LL GET A TAX REFUND THIS YEAR.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF CRICKET WIRELESS, WHICH  LOOKED AT HOW MANY ARE THINKING AHEAD WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR TAXES.

THE SURVEY OF 2,000 U.S. ADULTS FOUND THE AVERAGE TAX REFUND IS EXPECTED TO BE $2,023.50 THIS YEAR, DOWN FROM THE AVERAGE OF $2,338.40 LAST YEAR.

SO WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO DO WITH THAT MONEY? TWO IN THREE AMERICANS SAID THEY WOULD USE IT IN A MORE “MATURE” WAY THAN YEARS PAST (67%).

HALF OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH A MAJOR LIFE EVENT LIKE PUTTING CONTRIBUTIONS INTO A RETIREMENT PLAN (17%) OR GETTING A NEW JOB (11%) ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD USE THEIR TAX REFUND TO HELP FINANCIALLY SUPPORT NEW CHANGES.

HOWEVER, A QUARTER OF AMERICANS ADMIT TO FEELING STRESSED LEADING UP TO THE TAX DEADLINE (28%) FROM THE UNCERTAINTY OVER WHAT TO EXPECT.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Cricket Wireless between Jan. 11 and Jan. 16, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).