2020 FILING SEASON STATISTICS Cumulative statistics comparing 2/15/2019 and 2/14/2020 Individual Income Tax Returns: 2019 2020 % Change Total Returns Received 39,747,000 39,622,000 -0.3 Total Returns Processed 37,810,000 38,319,000 1.3 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 38,357,000 38,368,000 0.0 Tax Professionals 16,583,000 16,024,000 -3.4 Self-prepared 21,774,000 22,344,000 2.6 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 161,706,000 165,294,000 2.2 Total Refunds 1: Number 23,485,000 18,166,000 -22.6 Amount $61.993 Billion $36.565 Billion -41.0 Average refund $2,640 $2,013 -23.8 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 22,141,000 17,094,000 -22.8 Amount $59.846 Billion $35.273 Billion -41.1 Average refund $2,703 $2,064 -23.6 1 The IRS notes that calendar factors are having a major, but temporary, impact on this week's refund numbers. The PATH Act, Section 201 requires the IRS to hold refunds for tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15. Accordingly, refunds held due to the PATH Act are not included in this filing season report, which is through February 14, 2020. However, the report for the same period last year was through February 15, 2019, which included EITC and ACTC refunds. It's important to note this week's refund numbers do not include millions of EITC and ACTC refunds to these taxpayers. This means the refund numbers in the February 21, 2020 report next week are expected to be significantly higher and closer to the figures reported for the same time in 2019. The IRS emphasizes it continues to see a strong filing season with refunds continuing to reach taxpayers as planned.
