Statistics from the Internal Revenue Service show that efiled returns from paid preparers dropped sharply as the traditional tax season neared its end. The number of efiles from professionals fell to 50,511,000 for the period ended April 10, down 20.1 percent from 63,248,000 for the period ended April 12, 2019.Even self-prepared efies fell behind the year ago totals as tax payers apparently are taking advantage of the extension of the filing deadline to July 15. Total returns filed through April 10 were 103,986,000, off 12.5 percent from 119,427,000
Total efiles fell to 96,798,000, down 13.1 percent from 111,368,000. Self-prepared returns dropped to 46,287,000, a decline of -3.8 percent from 48,120,000.
The number of refunds for the season to date as reported dropped 13.2 percent to 64,762,000 from 74,617,000. The average refund rose to $2,999, an increase of 2.6 percent from $2,924.
