The new nunubers the average refund was .6 percent higher than for the 2016 season through February 26. This year's average refund was $3,071, up from $3,053. The prior week's report had shown an increase in refund size for the first time for the current season. 

Meanwhile, the total number of returns received reached 52,096,000 for the most recently reported period, a decrease of 10.6 percent from 58,304,000 in 2016's corresponding period. That was an improvement from 13.3 percent down for the season through February 17.

The number of efiled returns submitted by paid professionals hit 24,220,000, off 12.6 percent from 27,709,000 while the 25,151,000 self-prepared returns were 8.1 percent than the 27,372,000 returns a year ago. The prior weekly report had shown the two categories were off 16.1 percent and 11 percent respectively.