What are the tax brackets? What they mean, key filing dates, when to expect a refund

Today, we will tell you about tax refunds. What are the tax brackets? What they mean, key filing dates, when to expect a refund. Let’s start:

Happy Valentine’s Day! While you enjoy the day with your loved ones, don’t forget an important date, which is just two months away. With the tax season at its peak and just 60 days left until Tax Day, most Americans expect a refund once they submit their tax returns.

Experts advise you to take your time while completing your tax returns to minimize the risk of facing an IRS tax-related audit. Whether you’re doing taxes alone or paying someone else, here’s the information you need to know about deadlines for tax filing, brackets, and when you can expect a refund from the IRS.

Table of Contents

What are the tax brackets?

The federal income tax brackets determine the proportion of your earnings that is paid as taxes. According to the IRS, the higher your income, “the tax rate on the next layer of income is higher.”

It’s important to remember that even if your earnings move you to a higher tax bracket, it doesn’t mean the tax rate that corresponds to it applies to your total income. Instead, the IRS declares that you’ll be paying the tax at a higher rate only for the portion of your income that’s in the tax bracket that you’re in, which means that only the portion that is placed in the bracket will be taxed at the rate that you pay.

Where is my refund? How can you track your tax refund status and know when you’ll be able to receive your tax refund?

What are these IRS taxes for the tax year 2025? Check rates for single or joint filers.

This is the IRS tax rates for seven tax brackets for 2025, as reported by USA Today. The rates apply to one one-time taxpayer:

38 percent – Individual incomes over $709,350
34 percent – A single income of more than $343,725
33 percent – Individual incomes over $291,950
25 percent – Individual income of more than $200,525
23 percent – single income greater than $57,150
13.6% – Single income more than $21,600
12% – One income of less than $21,600

There are the brackets for the tax you should use if you’re married and you file a joint return:

38% of those earning more than $831,200.
36% of the income for those earning more than $587,450.
33% of the income above $483,900.
25% of incomes above $301,050.
23% of the incomes above $95,300.
13.5% for incomes of more than $33,200
12% of income or less than $33,200

Where is my tax refund? How can I find out your tax refund status for 2025?

Taxes that are filed online will receive an amount of money in the month or less after the date of filing, according to the IRS. The IRS states that it typically takes between 10 and 21 days to process an electronic return or more time when amended returns are sent via mail.

If you’ve filed your return online, The IRS states that you should verify your refund status shortly after you file with this What’s My Return program, which will give you an individual refund date. The IRS makes it possible to begin looking up the status of your refund within 24 hours after you file your current-year tax return electronically, 3 to 4 days after e-filing an earlier-year return, and up to 4 weeks after submitting the paper form.

The refund tracker shows three types of status: return accepted, refund approved, and refund issued.

What is the earliest date I can start filing the tax return in 2025?

It is time to start filing. The 2025 tax season began on 27 January, and the IRS accepts tax returns until the deadline, 15 April.

What’s the IRS 2025 deadline for tax filing? How do I request an extension?

The deadline for filing a federal tax return with the IRS is 15 April 2025.

You may request an extension before the April deadline for tax filing If you need additional time. This gives you until 15 October to file your tax return without penalty.