On Tax Day, Everyday Americans Are Seeing Lower-Than-Promised Refunds That Don’t Make a Dent in Trump’s High Prices Arrow

Trump's disastrous economic agenda has cost Americans six times more than the average expected tax refund increase while billionaires reap Trump's massive tax handouts

Donald Trump promised "record-setting tax refunds" - but today, on Tax Day, Americans are seeing lower-than-promised refunds hitting their bank accounts that won't cover the higher costs under Trump. Meanwhile, billionaires and big corporations are reaping the massive kickbacks paid for by the historic cuts to health care, food assistance, and education for millions of Americans because of Trump's Big Ugly Bill.

Trump's disastrous economic agenda has cost American households six times more than the average expected tax refund increase. The average tax refund won't even cover the spike in gas prices caused by Trump's war of choice in Iran. Americans are expected to pay an additional $740 at the pump this year - that's more than twice as much as the average refund increase. And Trump's reckless tariffs cost the average American household $2,120 in 2025 and are estimated to cost Americans $2,500 in 2026, and now his war with Iran is pushing prices even higher.

In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

"Donald Trump promised Americans lower prices, lower taxes, and bigger refunds, and what have they gotten instead? Massive tax breaks for Trump and his wealthy friends, a reckless trade war that has hiked prices, and a deadly and costly taxpayer-funded war with Iran. Meanwhile, Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' stole from nursing homes, rural hospitals, and hungry families to give a windfall to the ultra-rich.

"This Tax Day, Americans are seeing lower-than-promised refunds hit their bank accounts that won't even cover the higher costs Trump has forced them to shoulder. It couldn't be clearer: Trump and the Republican Party are on the side of billionaires, big corporations, and wealthy special interests."

Reminder: Trump's Big Ugly Bill provides more in tax breaks to the top 1% than to the bottom 80% combined, and ultimately raises taxes on the poorest 40% of Americans.

While Trump touts the No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and No Tax on Social Security provisions of his Big Ugly Bill, these provisions only impact a small handful of workers - who will be worse off by Trump's massive cuts to health care and food assistance - and are only temporary, while his handouts for billionaires are permanent. Republicans have conceded that they have nothing to show for the American people aside from their deeply unpopular tax bill, with one House Republican even saying, "It's all we have to run on…This is it."