Investing your tax refund is a fantastic way to start building wealth.
If you received a tax refund from Uncle Sam this year, you shouldn't celebrate just yet. Aside from the fact that it was your money to begin with (not a friendly gift from the government), you may have some adjusting to do before next tax season rolls around.
If you are having too much withheld from your paycheck, you are basically lending the government your money for free. What's worse is that you are losing out on time that your money could be growing for you. If this is the case, be sure to adjust your federal income withholding allowances or revisit your W-4.
That is not to say that a lump sum of cash from the government doesn't make you feel good. With that being said, don't get caught treating your refund any differently that you would your paycheck. Your money is valuable, and just like your paycheck, each dollar of your refund should be given a purpose.
Last year in 2025, the average tax refund payment was more than $3,052 according to the IRS. If you are one of those people who received a tax refund this year, before you squander your tax refund on a vacation or another big ticket item, first consider a few ways you can make that money work for you.
Here are several suggestions for what to do with you tax refund:
1. Contribute to Your Emergency Fund
Have you considered what would happen if you were laid off from your job unexpectedly, or faced a big unexpected expense? If you aren't prepared for this or a slew of other misfortunes that you could be faced with, you may want to consider holding on to your tax refund.
At least a few months of easily accessible "rainy-day" cash is recommended. Although it has been said by some financial experts that six months to a year of emergency cash is necessary. The extent to which you save for an emergency is largely dependent upon your situation though.
Putting some (or all) of your tax refund money into a savings account as your emergency fund can be a savvy way to build wealth. It's likely the simplest way to start investing your tax refund. The best high-yield savings accounts are earning over 5% interest right now!
Read our full guide to emergency funds here.
2. Pay Off Your Debt
Possibly worse than an unexpected emergency is a present day emergency otherwise known as debt.
If you are one of the many Americans faced with high interest debt, you should be focusing on cutting expenses and channeling every free dollar into your debt. Furthermore, it is often recommended to pay off your debt before even starting an emergency fund (we don't agree, but you still shouldn't avoid paying off your debt).
The logic behind this is that if you're already in debt and you burn through your emergency fund, you will be without the financial option of borrowing money. Borrowing money on credit cards is never an attractive option, but in dire circumstances it may be necessary.
According to the latest data from Forbes, the average credit card APR is 27.92%. Yikes!
Here's an example of why you should pay this debt off. Let's say you owe $2,753 in credit card debt at 27.92% APR. If you only make the minimum payment of $200 per month, it would take you 1 year 5 months, and you'd pay an extra $603.97 in interest on that amount. If you took your tax refund and paid it off, you'd avoid all that extra interest - saving you $600! Now, you'll walk away with no credit card balance - and you can start investing in other areas of your financial life!
Note: If you have student loan debt, now might NOT be the best time to pay those off (due to loan forgiveness programs and more). Instead, focus on other debt like credit cards or auto debt.
3. Save More for Retirement and Other Goals
If your financial house is in order and you've accumulated a healthy emergency fund and you are debt-free, another option to consider for you tax refund is to invest it.
The average American is not allocating enough money to retirement. Many financial advisors recommend investing 10% to 15% of your annual income to retirement, but obviously with the time value of money, the earlier you invest, the better.
If you got a late start on investing, it is never too late to bridge the gap. A $3,052 tax refund will certainly help get you closer to your goals. In fact, that amount would be half of what you can contribute to your IRA this year.
Let's break down what investing your tax refund would look like. It you invested $3,052 at an average return of 9% (which is actually slightly lower than the historical S&P 500 average), and never added any more money, you'd have:
- After 20 Years: $17,104.66
- After 30 Years: $40,492.95
That's the power of compound interest! And if you invested your tax refund in your retirement account, that money could even be tax-free in the future!
4. Refinance Your Mortgage or Make Home Improvements
Mortgage rates are at all time lows. If you're financially prepared and ready to buy, there really is no better time. If you already own a home you can take advantage of these interest rates by refinancing and paying for your closing costs and fees with your refund. This will allow you to save money immediately in interest payments.
If you are really ambitious, you can keep paying the same monthly mortgage amount, and cut away at the principal you owe. Furthermore, if there is a high dollar project that you have been putting off, now may be the perfect time to knock it off the list. Home improvement projects are a great way to add value to your home and usually the benefits are immediate.
Related: Best Places To Get A HELOC Online
5. Invest in a Taxable Account
If you've already maxed out your tax-sheltered accounts you are definitely ahead of the pack and you probably don't need to hear this advice. Opening a brokerage account can be a great way to further diversify your portfolio and make your money grow for you.
Since these investments are fully taxable, it may be a good idea to steer towards low expense investments or tax efficient mutual funds or ETFs.
A taxable account works just like a retirement account - you ave your investment portfolio of stocks and bonds. The only difference is that these aren't tax-advantaged.
6. Give to Charity
Depending on who you are this may be number one on your list. For others on a tight budget, giving to charity can be difficult. A tax refund is a chance to contribute to a charity of your choice.
Giving to charitable causes may not give back in the form of dividends or capital gains, but sometimes the benefits a donation can create are more valuable than anything money could buy. Not to mention you can deduct charitable contributions on your taxes.
7. Start Your Own Business
If you have a business idea that you've been putting off, a refund may be just what you need to get things off the ground. This is a great way to see return on your investment, and tax deductions can be taken on your small business as well.
If you don't know where to start, we have a list of the 15 best online business ideas you can start right now at home.
Bonus: Change Your Withholdings To Not Receive A Refund
An option you may not have thoughts about is simply changing your tax withholdings from your paycheck so you don't get a refund - but rather owe. That might seem crazy, but remember, a tax refund is just a refund of extra money you've paid to the IRS all year. It's your money!
If you change your W4 withholdings on your paycheck, you'll get bigger paychecks all year long. Then, at tax time, you would pay any difference you owe. This is something that most savvy investors and high net worth individuals do. Never let the IRS get extra money that belongs to you.
The only drawback here: you need to plan to write a check to the IRS in April. If you don't save or have the money, you could be in trouble. So, before you go adjusting your withholdings, make sure you have a plan.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of how much of a refund you are receiving, if you are receiving one at all, a tax refund should be treated with just as much value as any other dollar you have earned. If nothing else, it should be treated with more value, since you are basically being paid for work you did throughout the year.
Whether your refund was expected or not, it should be used in the way that is most advantageous to wherever you are in life. As tempting as it is to treat yourself to something that you want, just like all of your hard earned dollars, investing in something that will advance you in your goals is far greater than any item that could be bought in a mall.
What other investment ideas do you have for your tax refund?
Editor: Claire Tak Reviewed by: Ashley Barnett
Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.
Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.
He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.