Returns for the current tax season were .5-percent higher than 2023 totals, according to the last week report issued by the Internal Revenue Service before the filing deadline.
There were101,849,000 filed through April 5, compared to 101,849,000 filed through April 7, 2023. Efiles moved .6 percent ahead of last year’s corresponding period at 98,421,000, up from 97,831,000.
The total efiles from paid preparers 53,157,000 for the season as reported to date, essential pulled even with 53,165,000 in last year’s corresponding period. There were 45,264,000 self-prepared efiles, an increase of 1.3-percent over 44,666,000 a year ago.
The IRS has issued 63,445,000 refunds through April 5, down 4.4 percent from 66,356,000 through April 7 last year. The average refund was $3,088, up 49 percent from $2,942.
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind