The Internal Revenue Service has announced a milestone for IRS e-file — more than 122 million returns were e-filed during 2013.
In 2013, the IRS received more than 45.2 million returns from those who prepared and e-filed their own returns on home computers, up from 43.2 million a year earlier, for an increase of 4.6%. E-filed returns from tax professionals increased slightly, totaling more than 77 million returns.
Whether they are self prepared or prepared by a tax return preparer, 91% of all tax returns filed by individuals are prepared on computers using tax preparation software, which improves the accuracy of those returns.
More than 109 million tax returns received
Other highlights from the 2013 filing season statistics show:
— During 2013, the IRS issued more than 109 million refunds worth almost $300 billion.
— Almost 77% of refund recipients chose to receive their refunds through direct deposit.
— More people are using IRS.gov to get answers, file their returns and resolve issues. The IRS website was accessed more than 430 million times in 2013, through late November, up almost 24% compared to the previous year.
The statistics
Here are filing season statistics for 2013 and 2012, both through late November.
Individual income tax returns received
2013: 147,744,000
2012: 147,874,000
Change: -0.1%
E-filing returns received
Total
2013: 122,515,000
2012: 119,560,000
Change: +2.5%
From tax professionals
2013: 77,268,000
2012: 76,322,000
Change: +1.2%
Self-prepared by taxpayers
2013: 45,247,000
2012: 43,238,000
Change: +4.6%
Total refunds
Number received
2013: 109,261,000
2012: 110,224,000
Change: -0.9%
Amount
2013: $299.863 billion
2012: $307.983 billion
Change: +2.6%
Average refund
2013: $2,744
2012: $2,794
Change: -1.8%
Direct deposit refunds
Number received
2013: 83,728,000
2012: 82,735,000
Change: +1.2%
Amount
2013: $244.929 billion
2012: $246.657 billion
Change: -0.7%
Average refund
2013: $2,925
2012: $2,981
Change: -1.9%
Web usage
Visits to IRS.gov
2013: 438,066,180
2012: 353,974,215
Change: +23.8%