President Barack Obama's U.S. economic stimulus plan is increasing average tax refunds to Americans by about $260, a roughly 10 percent rise over the previous year, the White House said Monday.
Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Doug Schulman said the federal government had paid out some $175 billion in refunds through March 12 with the average refund coming in at $3,036.
"For many taxpayers, this will be the biggest check that they see all year," Schulman told reporters.
The event, which was also attended Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, is the first of a series by administration officials stressing the benefits of the Recovery Act stimulus plan before the April 15 tax filing deadline.
The plan included tax relief for middle class citizens.
"A major factor in these larger refund numbers has been the Recovery Act," Schulman said.
Schulman said the refund totals would increase in the weeks and months ahead because roughly half of U.S. taxpayers had not yet filed their returns.
Republicans have criticized the Democratic president's $787 billion economic stimulus plan, signed by Obama in February 2009, as a waste of money that has failed to help average Americans.
