“We estimate the DIY category share of total IRS returns was down slightly this season versus our prior estimate of approximately flat,” she said.

Comparing the two years has been difficult given 2020’s inclusion of about 8 million returns filed to by individuals to receive stimulus aid, last year’s extension of the season through July 15 and this year’s through May 15.

The most recently available number from the IRS show 151,782,000 returns received through July 17, an increase of 4 percent from 145,941,000 through July 19, 2020.

Intuit’s performance improved in all tax areas. It grew the number of TurboTax returns by roughly 6 percent, after excluding the stimulus filings. Its share of all tax returns grew approximately 1 percentage point to 31 percent and its share of the DIY market also increased at the same rate.

Revenue for the ProConnect Group, which sells professional tax software, 5 percent to $517 million for the most recently ended year from $419 million in 2020. Consumer tax revenue increased to $3.56 billion, an increase of 14 percent to $3.14 billion the prior year.

Bob Scott

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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