IRS reports two out of three individuals using e-file
The IRS is reporting that individuals e-filed a record 95 million federal income tax returns during 2009, up almost 6 percent from last year’s total of nearly 90 million. About two out of three taxpayers e-filed this year; out of the 141 million returns filed so far this year, over 67 percent were e-filed, compared to 59 percent last year.
Each year, more taxpayers chose to e-file their tax returns. While the total number of tax returns has increased 10 percent during the past decade, the number filed electronically has increased by 168 percent. Taxpayers who e-file from a home computer continue to be an increasingly significant segment of those who e-file.
Year Filed | Total Returns | e-Filed Returns | Percent e-filed |
2000 | 128,430,000 | 35,412,000 | 27.57% |
2001 | 130,965,000 | 40,244,000 | 30.73% |
2002 | 131,728,000 | 46,892,000 | 35.60% |
2003 | 131,557,000 | 52,944,000 | 40.24% |
2004 | 132,200,000 | 61,507,000 | 46.53% |
2005 | 133,933,000 | 68,476,000 | 51.13% |
2006 | 136,071,000 | 73,255,000 | 53.84% |
2007 | 140,188,000 | 79,979,000 | 57.05% |
2008 | 153,650,000 | 89,853,000 | 58.48% |
2009 | 141,376,000 | 94,980,000 | 67.18% |
Home Computer e-Filers
This year, for the first time, more than a third of e-filers are those doing it themselves from a home computer More than 32 million returns were e-filed from home computers, up almost 20 percent from last year’s record of 27 million. People filing from their home computers account for about 34 percent of all e-filed returns from individuals.
Direct Deposit Refunds
Almost 73 million refunds were electronically deposited into taxpayer’s accounts, saving the government mailing costs and saving taxpayers a trip to the bank. More importantly, these taxpayers received their refunds a week sooner than those receiving a paper check.
These direct deposit refunds accounted for 66 percent of all refunds, up from 62 percent of refunds last year. Overall, the IRS issued 110 million refunds, averaging $2,753 per refund; direct deposit refunds averaged $2,997 per refund.
Free File
More than 3 million taxpayers filed their tax returns for free through the IRS free file program. This year for the first time, taxpayers could also file directly to the IRS by completing a Form 1040 on IRS.gov; 273,000 taxpayers used this new way to file.
2009 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
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Cumulative through the weeks ending 10/17/08 and 10/16/09
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Individual Income Tax Returns | 2008 | 2009 | % Change | ||
Total Receipts | 153,650,000 | -8.0% | |||
Total Processed | 152,759,000 | 140,718,000 | -7.9% | ||
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E-filing Receipts: |
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TOTAL | 89,853,000 | 94,980,000 | 5.7% | ||
Tax Professionals | 62,932,000 | 62,786,000 | -0.23% | ||
Self-prepared | 26,921,000 | 32,193,000 | 19.6% | ||
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Web Usage: |
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Visits to IRS.gov | 323,463,010 | 266,631,821 | -17.57% | ||
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Total Refunds: |
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Number | 106,200,000 | 110,071,000 | 3.6% | ||
Amount | $251.827 | Billion | $303.069 | Billion | 20.3% |
Average refund | $2,371 | $2,753 | 16.1% | ||
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Direct Deposit Refunds: |
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Number | 66,240,000 | 72,717,000 | 9.8% | ||
Amount | $179.708 | Billion | $217.915 | Billion | 21.3% |
Average refund | $2,713 | $2,997 | 10.5% | ||