IR-2015-46, March 12, 2015 WASHINGTON — Americans have turned to IRS.gov nearly 200 million times so far this tax filing season where they can find answers on topics ranging from tax preparation to checking their refund status. This is a 10 percent increase in comparison to the same time last year, according to IRS statistics released today. In addition to various interactive tools, IRS.gov is the gateway to many more resources and answers about many tax matters. Try Interactive Tax Assistant, Tax Topics, Tax Trails, Frequently Asked Questions, and the IRS Tax Map. Taxpayers can easily and quickly view or download any IRS form, publication or instruction booklet by visiting IRS.gov. If taxpayers still need printed forms or instructions, they can place their order online at IRS.gov/orderforms. Publication 17, and certain other products are not available at TACs this year. Similarly, the tax forms available from community partners, like libraries, have also been reduced. Even after taxpayers file, there are more online tools that can provide them with valuable assistance long after tax season ends. One of the most popular is the Where’s My Refund? tool available on IRS.gov or IRS2Go that enables taxpayers to track the status of their refund. Initial information will normally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives the taxpayer’s e-filed return or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return to the IRS. The system updates every 24 hours, so there’s no need to check more often. [The filing season statistics table follows.] 2014 FILING SEASON STATISTICS Cumulative statistics comparing 3/07/14 and 3/06/15 Individual Income Tax Returns: 2014 2015 % Change Total Receipts 67,183,000 66,700,000 -0.7 Total Processed 65,662,000 64,900,000 -1.2 E-filing Receipts: TOTAL 62,213,000 62,342,000 0.2 Tax Professionals 34,816,000 33,419,000 -4.0 Self-prepared 27,397,000 28,923,000 5.6 Web Usage: Visits to IRS.gov 179,637,790 198,440,750 10.5 Total Refunds: Number 55,434,000 54,258,000 -2.1 Amount $164.586 Billion $162.106 Billion -1.5 Average refund $2,969 $2,988 0.6 Direct Deposit Refunds: Number 47,976,000 48,699,000 1.5 Amount $146.305 Billion $151.554 Billion 3.6 Average refund $3,050 $3,112 2.0 Follow the IRS on New Media Subscribe to IRS Newswire
