This year’s return total of 137,233,000, compared to 136,919,000 filed a year ago. However, efiles submitted by tax professionals fell to 70,476,000 for this year, down .7 percent from 70,983,000 from last year’s corresponding period. There were 55,788,000 self-prepared efiles submitted as of April 19, an increase of 4.2 percent from 53,532,000 in last year’s corresponding period. 

Total efiles of 126,264,000 for 2019 were 1.4 percent ahead of 2018. 

The number of refunds issued for the most recently completed season, 84,435,000, was down 1.9 percent 86,039,000 a year ago. The amount of money refunded this year, $236 billion, was off 3.1 percent from $243.6 billion for last year through April 20. The average revenue for the 2019 season was $2,795, down 1.3 percent from $2,831.