If you receive a tax refund of over $1,000, you might have paid too much in taxes throughout the year to the government. With inflation still too high and many of us living paycheck-to-paycheck or leaning on credit to get by, that tax refund might have been more helpful throughout the year.

If you mail in a paper return, the refund should be issued within roughly six to eight weeks of the date the IRS receives the filing, again assuming it's accurate and complete. Once you file your taxes, you can track your refund on the IRS website.

Many people are eligible for free filing alternatives this season, including IRS Free File, Direct File, and Volunteer Tax Assistance