32% of Americans file their taxes last-minute, survey says: Here's where the most procrastinators live

Many Americans are filing their taxes at the last minute, according to a new survey. This is why. (iStock)

Nearly one-third of Americans (32%) said they wait until the last minute to file their taxes, according to a survey conducted by title insurance company IPX1031. The top reason for procrastination was because respondents didn't feel a need to rush and that they wouldn't get a refund (also 32%).

Specifically, millennials were the most likely to procrastinate in filing their taxes, according to the survey. Other reasons for putting the task off included it being too complicated (25%), making sure things are correct (20%), it being too time-consuming (11%) and being worried about owing money (7%).

One way that consumers said they'd plan to use their tax refund is to pay down existing debt (22%). If you find yourself looking to pay down debt of your own, consider taking out a personal loan while interest rates are low. Visit Credible to find your personalized interest rate without affecting your credit score.

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Americans' refund expectations may be too low

The average individual federal tax refund in 2021 totaled $2,815, according to Internal Revenue Service statistics. This marked an increase of $108 from the year prior, but taxpayers responded to IPX1031's survey by saying that they're expecting an average refund this year of just $1,915.

When it comes to generational expectations, though, Gen Z-ers reported having the lowest, saying they expected an average individual refund of $1,237. Next were Baby Boomers, who expected $1,275, then Gen X-ers, at $2,139 and finally millennials at $2,158. How they plan to spend their refund varies, too.

Most survey respondents plan to save the money (37%), others plan to invest it (6%) and few plan to use it on home improvements (3%).

With the April 18 deadline to file your taxes quickly approaching, you may be thinking of ways to spend your refund, such as paying off existing debt. Another way to pay debt down is to consider taking out a personal loan at a lower interest rate. Visiting a site like Credible can allow you to compare multiple lenders at once.

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Which state have the most tax-filing procrastinators?

Some states had more procrastinators than others when it comes to filing their taxes, the survey showed, as more states saw an increase in search activity related to the tax filing deadline.

Nevada had the highest number of procrastinators based on Google searches, with 492 searches related to the tax filing deadline per 100,000. Next came Hawaii with 470 searches, followed by Georgia with 468, Alaska with 453 and California with 438 searches.

On the other hand, residents of Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan showed the fewest number of searches with 50, 49 and 48 searches, respectively.

If you're expecting a smaller tax refund this year or are looking at other ways to pay down debt, consider a taking out a personal loan. Contact Credible to speak to a loan expert and get all of your questions answered.

Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at moneyexpert@credible.com and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.