The Internal Revenue Service said this week 943,000 taxpayers had filed tax returns via the IRS Free File program through February 24, a 9.7-percent increase over 869,000 filed in last year’s corresponding period. That increase came during what the IRS called a strong start to the filing season.
For the consecutive week, filings for 2024 are narrowing the gap with 2023. For the most recently reported, the IRS received 44,584,000 returns, 3 percent fewer than the. 45,983,000 received through Feb. 2023.
There were 43,661,000 efiles for the season as reported, off 2.9 percent from 44,962,000 in last year’s corresponding period.
Taxpros were responsible for 19,290,000 efiles, 2.9 percent down from 20,239,000 a year ago. Self-prepared efiles were 4.7 percent behind the last season to date, coming it at 24,371,000, a 1.4-percent gap from 24,723,000, in last season’s comparable period.
The number of refunds issued were 17.6 percent behind the 2023 pace with this year’s 28,945,000 issued to date down from 35,142,000. However, for the second-straight reporting period, the average return grew. This season as reported saw the average at $3,213, 4.3 percent up from $3,079.
