IRS Says Filing Season Is Going Smoothly
IRS Says Filing Season Is Going Smoothly
- Institutional AuthorsInternal Revenue Service
- Subject Area/Tax Topics
- Jurisdictions
- Tax Analysts Document Number2021-8958
- Tax Analysts Electronic Citation2021 TNTF 43-212021 TPR 10-7
Filing Season Statistics
There are several different ways to compare year-to-year statistics of tax returns filed.
The IRS has traditionally done a calendar-year to calendar-year comparison of filings. However, due to the unusual circumstances of this year's filing season and the pandemic, the IRS is also providing a look at numbers comparing filing season stats based on the number of days IRS processing systems have been open — not just based on the calendar.
Regardless of which set of numbers are used, the IRS notes this year's filing season is on track and progressing smoothly thanks to the work of IRS employees, tax professionals, tax filing industry partners and members of the Free File Alliance.
In addition, it's important to remember that exact comparisons are difficult every year early in the filing season due to differences in the calendar and differences in the opening date when the IRS begins accepting returns. Traditionally, it's not unusual to see declines in tax filings early in the filing season due to the calendar. Typically filing season data tend to catch up with the previous year's data as the filing season progresses and the closer it gets to the April 15 deadline.
Using the traditional set of year-to-year comparisons, the numbers of filings are down as are the related numbers of refunds because taxpayers began filing later than usual, but this is not surprising because there have been fewer processing days in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. However, given the number of days the IRS has been open for processing, the number of tax returns filed each day is up sharply this year compared to 2020.
2021 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative statistics comparing 2/28/2020 (day 33 of Filing Season 2020) and 02/26/2021, (day 15 of Filing Season 2021)
| 2020 | 2021 | % Change |
---|---|---|---|
Individual Income Tax Returns: |
|
|
|
Total Returns Received | 59,305,000 | 45,271,000 | -23.7 |
Total Returns Processed | 57,085,000 | 39,402,000 | -31.0 |
E-filing Receipts: | |||
TOTAL | 56,736,000 | 43,936,000 | -22.6% |
Tax Professionals | 26,410,000 | 18,344,000 | -30.5 |
Self-prepared | 30,326,000 | 25,592,000 | -15.6 |
Web Usage: | |||
Visits to IRS.gov | 291,906,000 | 493,500,000 | 69.1 |
Total Refunds: | |||
Number | 45,552,000 | 28,301,000 | -37.9 |
Amount | $139.593 Billion | $85.484 Billion | -38.8 |
Average refund | $3,064 | $3,021 | -1.4 |
Direct Deposit Refunds: | |||
Number | 42,636,000 | 27,228,000 | -36.1 |
Amount | $134.202 Billion | $83.408 Billion | -37.8 |
Average refund | $3,148 | $3,063 | -3.2 |
2021 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative statistics comparing 2/14/2020 (19 days of Filing Season 2020) and 2/26/2021 (15 days of Filing Season 2021) — While all reports referenced are for a period ending on a Friday, FS 2020 started on a Monday and FS 2021 started on a Friday so the closest report for 2020 will always include 4 more days)
| 2020 | 2021 | % Change |
---|---|---|---|
Individual Income Tax Returns: |
|
|
|
Total Returns Received | 39,622,000 | 45,271,000 | 14.3 |
Total Returns Processed | 38,319,000 | 39,402,000 | 2.8 |
E-filing Receipts: | |||
TOTAL | 38,368,000 | 43,936,000 | 14.5 |
Tax Professionals | 16,024,000 | 18,344,000 | 14.5 |
Self-prepared | 22,344,000 | 25,592,000 | 14,5 |
Web Usage: | |||
Visits to IRS.gov | 165,294,000 | 493,500,000 | 198.6 |
Total Refunds: | |||
Number | 18,186,000∗ | 28,301,000 | 55.6 |
Amount | $36.565* Billion | $85.484 Billion | 133.8 |
Average refund | $2,013* | $3,021 | 50.1 |
Direct Deposit Refunds: | |||
Number | 17,094,000* | 27,228,000 | 59.3 |
Amount | $35.273* Billion | $83.408 Billion | 136.5 |
Average refund | $2,064* | $3,063 | 48.4 |
* The PATH Act, Section 201 requires the IRS to hold refunds for tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15. |
- Institutional AuthorsInternal Revenue Service
- Subject Area/Tax Topics
- Jurisdictions
- Tax Analysts Document Number2021-8958
- Tax Analysts Electronic Citation2021 TNTF 43-212021 TPR 10-7