Owe money for taxes but expecting a refund? Here's what could happen and how you can protect what's yours.

We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. But what happens to your tax refund if you owe money to debt collectors?

Americans are expecting hundreds of billions in tax refunds this year, with the average refund expected to be about $3,800 for the 2026 tax season, according to recent reports. And, with millions of ...