Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
GOBankingRates
GOBankingRates
Laura Beck

7 Reasons Your Tax Refund Might Be Smaller in 2026 — and How To Fix It

NoDerog / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Some people might see bigger tax refunds this year because of the new tax bill, but not everyone wins. Other taxpayers are walking straight into smaller refunds or even tax bills, and they don’t know it yet.

Here are seven reasons your refund could shrink when you file in 2026, plus what you can do about it.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.