Early tax season returns lagged behind last season for period through February 9 by double digits. Every category for the period reported by the Internal Revenue Service was below the comparable period through Feb. 10, 2023.The IRS had received 28,826,000 returns for the season as reported to date. That is 11.4 percent behind the 25,553,000 corresponding period a year earlier Processing of returns was much closer to the year ago totals with 25,443,000 processed for tax year 2023, down 4.4 percent from 26,622,000.
With the season in its earlier stages, self-prepared efiles were not as far behind last year’s filing season as were those efiled by paid professionals.
There were 15,570,000 DIY efiles through February 9, 6.1 percent below 16,575,000 a year ago. Professionals submitted 25,553,000 efiles to date, 11.4 percent down from 28,826,000.
Refunds for this season were substantially behind last year’s total. The IRS issued 7,483,000 for the season as reported, down 43.9 percent from13,341,000 in last year’s corresponding period. The average refund this year is $1,741, a 12.8 percent drop from $1,997.
