Efiles were catching up with the 2023 season total at a slightly faster rate. This year's total was off 1.5 percent at 52,795,000 from 53,598,000 in last year's corresonding period.

There were 28,279,000 self-prepared efiles, lagging .4 percent behind 28,387,000 in the period through March 3 a year ago. Efiles from paid preparers, who typically file in greater numbers later in the season, totaled 24,516,000, down 2.8 percent from 25,210,00 a year ago.

The numbers of refunds issued continued to trail last year's total by double digits. The 36,288,000 issued to date as reported were 13.7-percent lower than 42,040,000, a year earlier. The average refund continued to improve over 2023 with the total hitting $3,244 this year, 4.1-percent higher than $3,115 in 2023.