How big will my tax refund be in Eastern WA? See average payment by county
Another Tax Day has come and gone.
Every year, taxpayers across Washington state must file their returns and pay any taxes owed to the Internal Revenue Service.
New data from travel guide website Upgraded Points offers a closer look at what you can expect in refunds this year.
Using the latest IRS figures, Upgraded Points analyzed how refund amounts have changed over time — and how they vary by location.
“For many, the federal tax refund represents an important financial boost — one that can help cover expenses, reduce debt or increase savings,” Upgraded Points CEO Alex Miller wrote in an April 7 article titled “How Large of a Tax Refund Will You Get? Average Refunds by State and County 2026.”
Here’s a breakdown of average tax refunds in Washington state by county:
How do tax refunds compare in 2026?
According to Upgraded Points, the average federal tax refund has fallen between $2,800 and $3,000 over the past 15 years — but that trend shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2020 filing season, the average refund dropped to $2,549 due to widespread job losses and reduced income early in the crisis.
Refunds rebounded in the years that followed.
Higher wages, expanded tax credits and federal stimulus programs helped push the average refund to a record $3,252 by 2022, according to Upgraded Points.
However, as pandemic-era tax breaks expired, fewer taxpayers received refunds. The share of returns resulting in a refund fell from 77.1% in 2021 to 62.8% by 2025.
Data for the 2026 tax season suggests another shift.
“Preliminary data for the 2026 tax season currently shows a higher average refund of $3,571 and a 72.9% refund rate, though early filing trends typically skew these figures upward,” Upgraded Points said.
When are taxes due in Washington?
In Washington state, the deadline to file federal income tax returns for the 2025 tax year was Wednesday, April 15.
Taxpayers who need more time can request a six-month filing extension, but they still need to pay any taxes owed by the April deadline to avoid penalties and interest.
Which US states get the largest tax refunds?
According to Upgraded Points, the U.S. states with the highest average federal tax refunds can mostly be found in the South.
- Florida — $4,433
- Texas — $4,344
- Wyoming — $4,282
- Nevada — $4,193
- Louisiana — $4,117
- Georgia — $4,114
- Mississippi — $4,018
- Illinois — $3,907
- Connecticut — $3,869
- Alabama — $3,863
Washington ranked at No. 15 on the list, according to the travel guide website.
On average, Washington taxpayers received refunds of about $3,810 a piece, according to the report. That’s an increase from $3,344 in 2025.
How big of a tax refund will I get in Eastern Washington?
According to Upgraded Points, Benton County taxpayers enjoy some of the highest federal tax refunds in Washington state, with taxpayers getting $3,614 back on average in 2026.
In Franklin County, the average tax refund was $3,552.
Surprisingly, taxpayers in both Tri-Cities counties got larger refunds on average than those in the largest county in Eastern Washington.
The average Spokane County taxpayer got a $3,378 tax refund on average, the Upgraded Points study found.
Taxpayers in nearby Walla Walla County had even smaller tax refunds, averaging $3,297 per return, according to Upgraded Points.
The county with the smallest average tax refund in Washington state was also on the east side of the state.
Whitman County taxpayers got $2,859 in tax refund payments on average.
Which Washington counties get the highest tax refund?
In Washington state, these were the counties with the highest average tax refunds in Washington state, according to Upgraded Points:
- San Juan County - $5,1777
- King County - $4,565
- Klickitat County - $3,763
- Jefferson County - $3,744
- Skamania County - $3,655
- Snohomish County - $3,634
- Kitsap County - $3,623
- Benton County - $3,614
- Lincoln County - $3,612
- Island County - $3,611
How did Upgraded Points come up with its findings?
Upgraded Points created its report based on the latest data from the IRS.
Researchers looked at federal tax return data and filing season statistics to estimate average refund amounts by county and state across the country, according to the report.
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 10:26 AM with the headline "How big will my tax refund be in Eastern WA? See average payment by county."