Tax season closed with a strong finish with returns exceeding 2023 totals by 1.5 percent. The Internal Revenue Service reported receiving 139,137,000 returns for the period ended April 19, up from 137,144,000 through April 21, 2023.Efiles hit 134,531,000 for the most recently reported period, an increase of 1.9 percent over132,009,000 for last year’s corresponding period.
Self-prepared efiles were up 2.7 percent with 63,204,000 received, compared to 61,517,000 a year ago. Paid preparers submitted 71,327,00-, 1.2-percent higher than 70,492,000 for the corresponding period last year.
For the first time in a weekly report this year, the number of refunds were higher than 2023 totals—barely. There were 86,058,000 refunds issues through April 19, an increase of .1 percent from 85,935,000 through April 21, 2023
The average refund, which exceeded last year’s total from early in this year’s season, was $2,850, up 3.5 percent from $2,753
