Cumulative statistics comparing 02/05/2016 and 02/03/2017 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 26,670,000 20,181,000 -24.3 Total Returns Processed 26,133,000 19,967,000 -23.6 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 25,656,000 19,407,000 -24.4 Tax Professionals 11,010,000 7,796,000 -29.2 Self-prepared 14,646,000 11,611,000 -20.7 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 97,487,501 71,451,815 -26.7 Total Refunds: Number 17,321,000 6,596,000 -61.9 Amount $58.631 Billion $13.150 Billion -77.6 Average refund $3,385 $1,994 -41.1 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 16,533,000 6,220,000 -62.4 Amount $57.046 Billion $12.750 Billion -77.6 Average refund $3,450 $2,050 -40.6
