Total returns received, 90,617,000, were down 2.4 percent from a year ago from 92,861,000. With taxpayers having until July 15 to file, many people have probably decided to wait. The number of efiled returns received by the Internal Revenue Service fell by 2 percent to 85,559,000 from 92,861,000. 

This is the period of tax season when filings have shifted from the early filers who want returns to balance due filers. And that seems to show in the fall off in efiles from tax professionals.  They submitted 44,501,000 efiled returns through March 27, down 6.2 from 47,430,000 through March 29, 2019..

Self-prepared efiles stayed ahead of 2019. There have been 41,058,000 DIY returns through the reported period., an increase of 3 percent from 39,858,000.

The number of refunds issued also fell by 8.1 percent to 69,931,000 this year from 71,755,000 in last year’s corresponding period. However, the average refund rose to $2,908, up 1.2 percent from $2,873.