Cumulative statistics comparing 02/12/2016 and 02/10/2017 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 38,737,000 32,090,000 -17.2 Total Returns Processed 37,672,000 31,420,000 -16.6 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 37,106,000 30,827,000 -16.9 Tax Professionals 17,122,000 13,518,000 -21.0 Self-prepared 19,984,000 17,309,000 -13.4 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 140,786,322 98,635,810 -29.9 Total Refunds: Number 29,155,000 14,059,000 -51.8 Amount $94.001 Billion $28.929 Billion -69.2 Average refund $3,224 $2,058 -36.2 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 27,367,000 13,039,000 -52.4 Amount $90.561 Billion $27.777 Billion -69.3 Average refund $3,309 $2,130 -35.6
