The number of returns filed for the tax season through April 19 was up .2 percent over the year through April 20, 2018. The statistical report from the Internal Revenue Service, which encompassed this year’s filing deadline, showed that all growth stemmed from self-prepared returns.
This year’s return total of 137,233,000, compared to 136,919,000 filed a year ago. However, efiles submitted by tax professionals fell to 70,476,000 for this year, down .7 percent from 70,983,000 from last year’s corresponding period. There were 55,788,000 self-prepared efiles submitted as of April 19, an increase of 4.2 percent from 53,532,000 in last year’s corresponding period.
Total efiles of 126,264,000 for 2019 were 1.4 percent ahead of 2018.
The number of refunds issued for the most recently completed season, 84,435,000, was down 1.9 percent 86,039,000 a year ago. The amount of money refunded this year, $236 billion, was off 3.1 percent from $243.6 billion for last year through April 20. The average revenue for the 2019 season was $2,795, down 1.3 percent from $2,831.
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