IR-2011-28, March 23, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that nearly 100 IRS offices will be open on Saturday, March 26, to help taxpayers. The location of participating offices is listed on IRS.gov.
"We are opening our doors this Saturday to help taxpayers who may not have a chance to seek assistance during the work week," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. " We are very focused on providing services to taxpayers when they want it, where they want it."
On Saturday, March 26, the IRS offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. IRS staff will be on site to help taxpayers. More than 35,000 taxpayers attended similar events last year resolving more than 95 percent of their issues.
During the open-house hours, IRS personnel will be available to provide services such as tax return preparation, assist with account questions and help with a variety of other issues.
In addition to IRS help, community organizations partner with the IRS. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs assist people who earned $49,000 or less, and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs assist individuals age 60 and over with their 2010 income tax return preparation and electronic filing.
Many of these sites have Saturday hours while others offer assistance at various times during the week. Taxpayers can call 800-906-9887 to locate partner sites in their area.
In addition to the open house on Saturday, March 26, the IRS expects to open many of its offices on two additional Saturdays later this year.

2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative through the weeks ending 03/12/10 and 03/11/11

Individual Income Tax Returns

2010


2011


% Change

Total Receipts

  68,743,000


68,195,000


-0.8%

Total Processed

64,294,000


66,159,000


  2.9%

 

 


 


 

E-filing Receipts:

 


 


 

TOTAL

56,802,000


59,948,000


  5.5%

Tax Professionals

35,510,000


36,840,000


  3.7%

Self-prepared

21,293,000


23,108,000


  8.5%

 

 


 


 

Web Usage:

 


 


 

Visits to IRS.gov

120,071,838


131,128,908


9.2

 

 


 


 

Total Refunds:

 


 


 

Number

57,779,000


59,005,000


  2.1%

Amount

$175.415

Billion

$178.356

Billion

  1.7%

Average refund

$3,036


$3,023


-0.4%

 

 


 


 

Direct Deposit Refunds:

 


 


 

Number

47,893,000


49,896,000


  4.2%

Amount

$154.801

Billion

$159.080

Billion

  2.8%

Average refund

$3,232


$3,188


  -1.4%

 
 

2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS


Cumulative through the weeks ending 03/19/10 and 03/18/11

Individual Income Tax Returns

2010


2011


% Change

Total Receipts

  75,561,000


75,271,000


-0.4%

Total Processed

70,948,000


73,342,000


  3.4%

 

 


 


 

E-filing Receipts:

 


 


 

TOTAL

61,650,000


65,538,000


  6.3%

Tax Professionals

38,898,000


40,772,000


  4.8%

Self-prepared

22,752,000


24,766,000


  8.9%

 

 


 


 

Web Usage:

 


 


 

Visits to IRS.gov

130,831,659


141,297,472


8.0

 

 


 


 

Total Refunds:

 


 


 

Number

63,255,000


64,672,000


  2.2%

Amount

$190.027

Billion

$193.055

Billion

  1.6%

Average refund

$3,004


$2,985


-0.6%

 

 


 


 

Direct Deposit Refunds:

 


 


 

Number

51,392,000


53,736,000


  4.6%

Amount

$165.157

Billion

$170.011

Billion

  2.9%

Average refund

$3,214


$3,164


  -1.6%

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