The IRS said this month that it had received 45,413,000 for the season to date, up from 45,271,000 returns in the comparable period a year ago.
Efiles rose .8 percent for the compared season to 44,293,000 from 43,936,000.
Returns for paid preparers rose to 19,082,000 for the most recently ended period, an increase of 4 percent from 18,344,000 a year earlier. DIY efiles dropped 1.5 percent to 25,211,000 from 25,592,000. That compared to a .4-percent decline in that category for the prior weekly IRS report
The IRS issued 29,723,000 refunds through February 25, rising 5 percent from 28,301,000 a year earlier. The average return rose a strong 15 percent to $3,473 from $3,021.