Tax refunds are expected to be huge this year, so many Americans may want to know the fastest way to get their hands on theirs is by free, electronic direct deposit. Every year, tax refunds mark the biggest payday of the year for millions of Americans. Typically, 75% of Americans receive refunds each year. The average refund in 2025 was $2,939, IRS data showed. This year, refunds could be as much as 30% more due to new provisions from President Donald Trump's mega tax and spending bill, according to James ...

Core Insights - The IRS is undergoing significant changes in leadership and operational structure, with Frank Bisignano appointed as CEO while retaining his role as commissioner of the Social Security Administration [1] - The 2026 tax season is expected to have unique characteristics due to job cuts and leadership turnover within the IRS in 2025, potentially leading to delays in tax refunds for early filers [2][3] - New tax rules introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to significantly impact tax refunds, with projections indicating that average refunds could increase substantially for many taxpayers [12][17] IRS Leadership and Structure - Frank Bisignano has been named CEO of the IRS, reporting to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is currently acting IRS commissioner [1] - The IRS has faced significant job cuts and turnover in leadership, which may affect its operations during the upcoming tax season [2] Tax Season 2026 Expectations - The official start date for the 2026 tax season has not yet been announced, but it is typically revealed in January [4] - Tax experts anticipate a possible delay in the kickoff of the tax season, which could affect the timing of tax refunds for early filers [3] Changes in Tax Refund Processing - The IRS will no longer issue tax refunds by paper check for most individual taxpayers, requiring direct deposit for refunds [5] - Taxpayers will need to file a new Schedule 1-A to claim key tax breaks, which will only be available in finalized form [5][12] New Tax Breaks and Deductions - Significant changes in tax rules for 2025 federal income tax returns include new deductions for overtime pay, tip income, and auto loan interest, which may lead to larger refunds for some taxpayers [11][20] - The new tax breaks come with specific income thresholds and phase-out rules that taxpayers must navigate [20] Projected Refund Changes - The Tax Foundation estimates that average refunds could increase by $300 to $1,000 due to the new tax cuts, potentially raising average refunds to upwards of $4,000 under favorable conditions [17][18] - The IRS has not adjusted withholding tables following the new law, meaning many taxpayers may receive larger refunds at tax filing rather than through increased take-home pay during the year [15] Direct Deposit Requirements - Taxpayers will be required to provide direct deposit information for their refunds, with options available for those without bank accounts [19][21] - Failure to provide direct deposit information may result in delayed refunds, as the IRS will issue paper checks only after certain conditions are met [22][24]

Sharon, just give us context here for a minute. Where does the Social Security program stand today in 2025, 90 years after it was started. Well, it's changing quite a bit.And what the Social Security Administration wants to do is make it more digital friendly. They're really trying to get more people, encourage more people not just to talk about Social Security, but to go on the website and check out what their earnings are, make sure that information is accurate, and have about 200 million people be digita ...

Customer Relationship & Engagement - Chime aims to be consumers' primary direct deposit relationship, helping them avoid fees, access short-term liquidity, build credit and savings [1] - Two-thirds (66%) of Chime's customer base uses it as their direct deposit account and primary account relationship [2] - The average customer makes over 55 transactions a month with Chime's card [3] - Customers interact with Chime's app and card approximately four to five times a day [3] - Customer love for Chime drives growth through referrals [4] Core Services - Chime provides services including helping members avoid fees, get access to short-term liquidity, build their credit and build their savings [1] - Chime is considered a primary financial dashboard for users [4]

IPO Details - Chime's IPO priced above the expected range at $27 per share, with approximately 32 million shares [1] - The IPO values the online banking provider at approximately $116 billion before trading begins [1] Target Market & Customer Base - Chime targets Americans earning up to $100,000 annually, a demographic often underserved by larger banks due to fee structures [2][7] - The company has 86 million monthly active users, with two-thirds using Chime as their primary direct deposit account [6][7] - Chime's customer base is highly engaged, averaging over 55 transactions per month with their card and interacting with the app 4-5 times daily [5] Competitive Positioning - Chime trails only JP Morgan and Bank of America in terms of being considered a primary direct deposit relationship by consumers [3] - The company emphasizes helping members avoid fees, access short-term liquidity, build credit, and save money [3] - Chime believes it has less than 5% penetration in its target market of nearly 200 million Americans earning up to $100,000 annually [7] Financial Performance & Growth - In Q1, Chime experienced revenue growth exceeding 30% and achieved IBITA profitability of approximately $25 million [8] - The company's adjusted EBITDA has improved by 40 percentage points in the last two years [9] - Chime's active member base grew by 23% year-over-year in Q1 [10] Marketing & Customer Retention - Chime invests heavily in marketing, with marketing expenses representing 35% of revenue, totaling $14 billion between 2022 and 2024 [10] - The company reports a strong LTV to customer acquisition cost ratio of 8:1 [11] - While first-year churn is around 50%, retention rates exceed 90% in year two and beyond for customers with direct deposit [14][15] - 72% of Chime's revenue comes from payment-driven revenue when cards are used for everyday transactions [13]