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%