IR-2011-26, March 14, 2011 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service is reminding those who haven’t filed their tax returns that they can receive their refunds in the form of savings bonds, payments to retirement accounts, mutual funds, as well as in the form of cash directly deposited to a checking or savings account. By March 4, the IRS had issued more than 52 million refunds worth $161 billion for an average refund of $3,070. For tax year 2010 returns, there are new savings bond options. Last year, if the taxpayer chose to receive a savings bond as part of the refund, it could only be issued in the taxpayers’ name. This year, taxpayers can designate anyone to receive a savings bond and also designate the co-owner or beneficiary. Also a new section was added to Form 8888, Allocation of Refund (Including Savings Bond Purchases), for entering savings bond information so that taxpayers no longer need to enter a pre-specified routing number. Instead, taxpayers will enter the bond owner’s name. The savings bonds will be mailed to the taxpayer. Taxpayers who claim a tax refund on Form 1040 can use Form 8888 to split their refunds. Refunds can be directed into bank accounts and other financial institutions where their mutual funds or retirement accounts are managed and to purchase U.S. Series I Savings Bonds. Taxpayers can choose to use a portion of the refund to buy up to $5,000 in low-risk savings bonds, which earn interest and protect owners against inflation. The bonds must be purchased in $50 increments. Direct deposit of any remaining refund amounts is no longer required. Paper checks can be requested for the balance. During 2010, more than 99,000 bonds were purchased using Form 8888, totaling more than $11 million dollars. To check the status of a bond purchase request, go to the “Where’s My Refund?” section of IRS.gov. If the IRS has already processed the refund and placed the request for the bond, then the tax filer should contact Treasury Retail Securities at 1-800-245-2804. 2011 FILING SEASON STATISTICS Cumulative through the weeks ending 03/05/10 and 03/04/11 Individual Income Tax Returns 2010 2011 % Change Total Receipts 61,287,000 60,536,000 -1.2% Total Processed 57,211,000 58,282,000 1.9% E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 51,600,000 53,863,000 4.4% Tax Professionals 31,880,000 32,680,000 2.5% Self-prepared 19,720,000 21,182,000 7.4% Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 109,663,929 119,793,481 9.2 Total Refunds: Number 51,980,000 52,564,000 1.1% Amount $160.185 Billion $161.345 Billion 0.7% Average refund $3,082 $3,070 -0.4% Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 44,032,,000 45,357,000 3.0% Amount $143.600 Billion $145.972 Billion 1.7% Average refund $3,261 $3,218 -1.3% Follow the IRS on New Media Subscribe to IRS Newswire
