Cumulative statistics comparing 01/29/2016 and 01/27/2017 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 13,288,000 8,912,000 -32.9 Total Returns Processed 13,124,000 8,804,000 -32.9 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 12,585,000 8,366,000 -33.5 Tax Professionals 5,106,000 3,192,000 -37.5 Self-prepared 7,479,000 5,174,000 -30.8 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 53,386,675 45,912,743 -14.0 Total Refunds: Number 2,248,000 2,013,000 -10.5 Amount $7.837 Billion $3.756 Billion -52.1 Average refund $3,486 $1,866 -46.5 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 2,175,000 1,916,000 -11.9 Amount $7,691 Billion $3.656 Billion -52.5 Average refund $3,536 $1,909 -46.0
