New Delhi, Feb. 2 -- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officially opened tax filing on Monday, Jan. 26, signaling the beginning of the 2025-2026 tax season. However, concerns over refund status increased after the US government slipped into a partial shutdown on Saturday while awaiting House approval of a funding agreement President Donald Trump negotiated with Democrats following nationwide outrage over the killing of a US citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by Border Patrol agents.

For many households, tax refunds represent the largest single payment they receive each year. The IRS stated that the average refund last year was nearly $3,200. This year, refunds could be even higher.

A recent analysis by financial services firm Piper San...