Cumulative statistics comparing 02/19/2016 and 02/17/2017 Calendar year-to-year comparisons are difficult at this early point in the season as four additional days of tax return processing are included in the 2016 totals. However, when comparing the same number of days of filing, IRS is seeing an increase in returns received and accepted over 2016. Early season refund numbers and dollar amounts are affected by the new law requiring refunds involving the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit to be held until the later part of February. Many taxpayers claiming these credits traditionally file during the opening weeks of tax season. Individual Income Tax Returns: 2016 2017 % Change Total Returns Received 49,020,000 42,502,000 -13.3 Total Returns Processed 47,420,000 41,298,000 -12.9 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 46,758,000 40,447,000 -13.5 Tax Professionals 22,588,000 18,941,000 -16.1 Self-prepared 24,170,000 21,506,000 -11.0 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 169,616,932 142,134,050 -16.2 Total Refunds: Number 38,550,000 32,904,000 -14.6 Amount $120.574 Billion $103.237 Billion -14.4 Average refund $3,128 $3,137 0.3 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 35,720,000 30,616,000 -14.3 Amount $115.226 Billion $99.170 Billion -13.9 Average refund $3,226 $3,239 0.4
