

IR-2004-25, Feb. 27, 2004
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service said today that electronic filing has shown a sharp increase for this year’s early filers.
Through February 20, overall e-filing reached 29 million returns, an increase of more than 2 million, or 8 percent, over the same period last year. More than 6.6 million taxpayers have e-filed from their personal computers, a 23 percent increase.
“E-filing is off to another good start,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “More and more taxpayers are discovering the benefits of e-file.”  
E-filing is fast, safe and accurate. By choosing to have their refunds deposited directly to a bank account, e-filers can have the money in two weeks or less.
The early refund statistics show that:

The IRS has certified 31.8 million refunds, an increase of 4.1 percent over the same time last year.


The refunds total $72.8 billion, up from $66.9 billion.


The average refund is up $97, to $2,292 — a 4.5 percent increase. 


Three out of four taxpayers receiving refunds had them deposited directly to their bank accounts. Direct deposit — the fastest, safest and most convenient way to get a refund — is available to all filers.

2004 Filing Season Statistics
Cumulative through the week ending 2/21/03 and 2/20/04
 

 


2003


2004 


Change


Individual Income Tax Returns


 


 


 


     Total Receipts


39,078,000


40,110,000


  2.6 %


     Total Processed


32,936,000


34,328,000


    4.2 %


E-filing Receipts:


 


 


 


     TOTAL


27,019,000


29,145,000


  7.9 %


     TeleFile (phone)


  2,509,000


  2,330,000


 - 7.1 %


     Computer


24,510,000


26,815,000


  9.4 %


     Tax Professionals


19,121,000


20,184,000


  5.6 %


     Self-prepared


  5,389,000


  6,631,000


  23.0 %


Tax Year 2003 Refunds Certified:


 


 


 


     Number


30,507,000


31,753,000


4.1 %


     Amount of Principal


$66.948 billion


$72.792 billion


8.7 %


     Average Refund


$2,195


$2,292


4.5 %


 Direct Deposit Refunds:


 


 


 


     Number


  22,470,000


  24,195,000


  7.7 %


     Amount


$55.816 billion


 $61.892 billion


 10.9 %


     Average


     $2,484


     $2,558


   3.0 %

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