IR-2005-42, April 7, 2005 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that e-file, direct deposit and e-payment programs are running at record paces so far this year. Through April 1st, 52 million tax returns were filed electronically, a 7 percent increase from last year. Overall, 65 percent of all returns were e-filed — up from 60 percent for the same period last year. While this percentage will decline as April 15 approaches, the IRS expects for the first time to have more than half of all individual tax returns filed electronically. Almost 4 million returns have been filed through the Free File program so far this year. With 3.93 million returns free filed so far — up 44 percent from the 2.7 million returns filed through the program at this time last year — the free program is serving a significant percent of e-filers. The IRS and a consortium of tax software manufacturers offer free services through Free File, which is available at IRS.gov. Free file is in its third year. “As we get deeper into the tax filing season, the percent difference between how many people are using e-file and used it last year keeps going up,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “This shapes up as a really strong year. Taxpayers who haven’t filed yet should check into e-file and Free File.” Record numbers of individuals are choosing to have their refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts. So far this year 42 million refunds were paid through direct deposit up 5.7 percent for the same time last year. Taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit get their refunds in half the time of those who file a paper return. Even paper filers, however, can get the benefit of direct deposit by choosing that option on their tax forms; they will get their refunds a week sooner than waiting for a paper check. 2005 Filing Season Statistics Cumulative through the week ending 4/2/04 and 4/1/05 2004 2005 % Change Individual Income Tax Returns: Total Receipts 81,021,000 80,014,000 -1.2 Total Processed 75,838,000 75,743,000 -0.1 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 48,554,000 52,098,000 7.3 TeleFile (phone) 3,185,000 2,740,000 -14.0 Computer 45,369,000 49,358,000 8.8 Tax Professionals 34,275,000 36,663,000 7.0 Self-prepared 11,094,000 12,695,000 14.4 Total Refunds: Number 67,889,000 67,063,000 -1.2 Amount $142.540 billion $148.203 billion 4.0 Average $2,100 $2,210 5.3 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 39,847,000 42,116,000 5.7 Amount $98.128 billion $108.155 billion 10.2 Average $2,463 $2,568 4.3 Links: Free File e-file — Filing your taxes was never easier! Subscribe to IRS Newswire
