The number of tax returns received by the IRS has fallen behind last year’s total for the second week in a row. Returns received through March 17 were .5 percent below those received by the Internal Revenue Services through March 18, 2022.The prior week’s report showed returns down .1 percent from last year’s corresponding period. There were 71,861,0001040s received as of the latest report, down from 72,223,000 a year ago.
Efiles were flat with last year, down .1 percent from the prior year, but it was the first report to show a drop with the total of 71,861,000, down from 72,223,000. The number from paid professionals stayed up from 2022 totals with 35,239,000 returns efiled, an increase of 2.5 percent from 34,395,000 a year ago. Self-prepared efiles fell 2.6 percent to 34,535,000 from 35,457,000.
The number of refunds rose to 53,912,000, up 4.1 percent from 51,775,000. Average refunds remained behind 2022 levels, as they have all of this season dropping 11 percent to $2,933 from $3,305
