Income Tax Return, e-File Statistics

Keep up to date with the latest IRS statistics. See how popular e-filing has become and compare it to earlier years - get your taxes done online with ease!

eFile, Tax
Statistics

The IRS reported that as of May 2023, approximately 134,224,000 tax returns were e-filed for Tax Year 2022 out of a total of 142,577,000 2021 Returns filed. This is around the same number of 2021 Returns e-filed in 2021 at this time (136,430,000 e-filed out of 144,341,000 total). The amount of e-filed returns increases steadily each year as paper filed returns become less popular among both taxpayers and tax professionals. Throughout the 2023 Tax Season for 2022 Returns as of May 2023, around 94% of 2022 Returns have been e-filed and, of the 135 million e-filed, around 62 million were self-prepared.

Electronic tax return filing has become popular and trusted amongst taxpayers over the years. See how the eFile.com app works and sign up for a free account to prepare and e-file your current year taxes entirely online.

eFilers Versus Paper Filers

Tax Refunds via Direct Bank Deposit: As of May 2023, over 88.4 million taxpayers received faster federal tax refunds via direct bank deposits into their accounts through electronic transfers out of a total of 94.84 million refunds issued for 2022 Returns. The IRS sent 94.9 million refunds, 88.4 million of which were direct deposit, and the average tax refund received by direct deposit for was $2,871.
- Additionally, of all e-filed returns, roughly 46% of those were self-prepared returns by individual taxpayers.
Did you know that, in most cases, a high refund is money you handed over to the IRS during the year that was alright rightfully yours? Increase your paycheck now instead of receiving a high refund a year later.
See the latest IRS Data Book with statistical information.

eFile Tax Return Statistics by Tax Year

The table below shows the total amount of tax returns filed by tax year, the amount of those which were filed electronically or e-filed, and the percentage of those e-filed.

Tax Year

Returns Filed

Returns e-Filed

Percent e-Filed

2022*

142,577,000

134,911,000

95%

2021

164,246,000

151,448,000

92%

2020

169,098,000

152,300,000

90%

2019

169,684,000

152,802,000

90.1%

2018

155,798,000

138,217,000

88.7%

2017

154,444,000

135,459,000

87.7%

2016

152,235,000

132,319,000

87.0%

2015

152,544,000

131,851,000

86.4%

2014

150,927,000

128,784,000

85.5%

2013

149,684,000

125,821,000

84.1%

2012

148,203,000

119,560,000

80.7%

2011

137,200,000

113,074,000

82.4%

2010

145,320,000

112,203,000

77.2%

2009

141,376,000

94,980,000

67.9%

2008

153,650,000

89,853,000

58.5%

2007

140,188,000

79,979,000

57.1%

2006

136,071,000

73,255,000

53.84%

2005

133,933,000

68,476,000

51.1%

2004

132,200,000

61,507,000

46.5%

2003

131,557,000

52,944,000

40.2%

2002

131,728,000

46,892,000

35.6%

2001

130,965,000

40,244,000

30.7%

*2022 statistics released by the IRS as of May 12, 2023. This page will be updated periodically as the IRS releases data.

e-Filing has become more trusted and utilized by taxpayers through its years. See the history of electronic filing here and how it came to be where it is now as well as an IRS review of the 2021 Filing Season for 2020 Returns. The eFile Tax App handles online preparation and e-filing - start preparing your taxes now.

2022 Tax Season (2021 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 31, 2021 and October 30, 2022)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2021	2022	% Change
Total Receipts	169,656,000	165,774,000	-2.3
Total Processed	168,921,000	168,855,000	0
e-filing Receipts:
Total	152,300,000	152,089,000	-0.1
Tax Professionals	84,924,000	85,140,000	0.3
Self-prepared	67,376,000	66,949,000	-0.6
Total Refunds:
Number	129,983,000	110,567,000	-14.9
Amount	$366.074 Bill.	$350.523 Bill.	-1.8
Average refund	$2,816	$3,252	15.5
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	113,564,000	100,758,000	-11.3
Amount	$327.263 Bill.	$331.837 Bill.	1.4
Average refund	$2,882	$3,293	14.3

2021 Tax Season (2020 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 4, 2020 and December 3, 2021)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2020	2021	% Change
Total Receipts	169,153,000	169,098,000	0.0
Total Processed	163,217,000	168,453000	3.2
e-filing Receipts:
Total	152,802,000	152,300,000	-0.3
Tax Professionals	80,583,000	84,924,000	5.4
Self-prepared	72,220,000	67,376,000	-6.7
Total Refunds:
Number	125,703,000	129,841,000	3.3
Amount	$320.022 Bill.	$365.499 Bill.	14.2
Average refund	$2,546	$2,815	10.6
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	102,623,000	113,283,000	10.4
Amount	$268.885 bill.	$326.184 Bill.	21.3
Average refund	$2,620	$2,879	10

2020 Tax Season (2019 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 13, 2019 and December 11, 2020)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2019	2020	% Change
Total Receipts	155,660,000	169,684,000	9.0
Total Processed	155,429,000	163,654,000	5.3
e-filing Receipts:
Total	138,217,000	152,802,000	10.6
Tax Professionals	80,630,000	80,582,000	-0.1
Self-prepared	57,587,000	>72,220,000	25.4
Total Refunds:
Number	112,254,000	125,851,000	12.1
Amount	$322.176 Bill.	$320.851 Bill.	-0.4
Average refund	$2,870	$2,549	-11.2
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	92,021,000	102,695,000	11.6
Amount	$274.024 Bill.	$269.261 Bill.	-1.7
Average refund	$2,978	$2,622	>-12

2019 Tax Season (2018 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 27, 2018 and December 28, 2019)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2018	2019	% Change
Total Receipts	153,383,000	154,297,000	0.6
Total Processed	152,827,000	153,721,000	0.6
e-filing Receipts:
Total	135,459,000	138,217,000	2.0
Tax Professionals	80,286,000	80,630,000	0.4
Self-prepared	55,173,000	57,587,000	4.4
Total Refunds:
Number	112,154,000	111,811,000	-0.03
Amount	$326.333 Bill.	$320.805 Bill.	-1.7
Average refund	$2,910	$2,869	-1.4
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	90,164,000	92,059,000	2.1
Amount	$273.697 Bill.	$274.253 Bill.	0.2
Average refund	$3,036	$2,979	-1.9

2018 Tax Season (2017 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of November 24, 2017, and November 23, 2018)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2017	2018	% Change
Total Receipts	151,825,000	154,444,000	1.7
Total Processed	151,446,000	154,058,000	1.7
e-filing Receipts:
Total	132,319,000	135,459,000	2.4
Tax Professionals	78,924,000	80,286,000	1.7
Self-prepared	53,395,000	55,173,000	3.3
Total Refunds:
Number	111,709,000	111,911,000	0.2
Amount	$322.599 Bill.	$324.426 Bill.	0.6
Average refund	$2,888	$2,899	0.4
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	89,402,000	90,067,000	0.7
Amount	$270.250 Bill.	$272.980 Bill.	1.0
Average refund	$3,023	$3,031	0.3

2017 Tax Season (2016 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of April 22, 2016, and April 21, 2017)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2016	2017	% Change
Total Receipts	136,528,000	135,638,000	-0.7
Total Processed	129,456,000	128,789,000	-0.5
e-filing Receipts:
Total	122,546,000	122,164,000	-0.3
Tax Professionals	70,864,000	70,401,000	-0.7
Self-prepared	51,682,000	51,763,000	0.2
Total Refunds:
Number	97,079,000	97,104,000	0.0
Amount	$263.197 Bill.	$268.296 Bill.	1.9
Average refund	$2,711	$2,763	1.9
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	81,221,000	81,646,000	0.5
Amount	$234.269 Bill.	239.410 Bill.	2.2
Average refund	$2,884	$2,932	1.7

2016 Tax Season (2015 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 25, 2015 and December 30, 2016)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2015	2016	% Change
Total Receipts	150,991,000	152,544,000	1.0
Total Processed	150,727,000	152,250,000	1.0
e-filing Receipts:
Total	128,784,000	131,851,000	2.4
Tax Professionals	78,406,000	78,736,000	0.4
Self-prepared	50,378,000	53,115,000	5.4
Total Refunds:
Number	109,426,000	111,069,000	1.5
Amount	$306.016 Bill.	$317.615 Bill.	3.8
Average refund	$2,797	$2,860	2.3
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	86,228,000	88,416,000	2.5
Amount	$254.944 Bill.	$264.822 Bill.	3.9
Average refund	$2,957	$2,995	1.3

2015 Tax Season (2014 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of December 26, 2014, and December 25, 2015)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2014	2015	% Change
Total Receipts	149,685,000	150,927,000	0.8%
Total Processed	149,510,000	150,694,000	0.8%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	125,821,000	128,784,000	2.4%
Tax Professionals	77,875,000	78,406,000	0.7%
Self-prepared	47,946,000	50,378,000	5.1%
Total Refunds:
Number	109,499,000	109,426,000	-0.1%
Amount	$305.734 Bill.	$306.016 Bill.	0.1%
Average refund	$2,792	$2,797	0.2%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	83,995,000	86,228,000	2.7%
Amount	$245.088 Bill.	$254.944 Bill.	4.0%
Average refund	$2,918	$2,957	1.3%

2014 Tax Season (2013 Tax Year) eFile Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of Dec. 27, 2013, and Dec. 26, 2014)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2013	2014	% Change
Total Receipts	148,197,000	149,684,000	1.0%
Total Processed	147,910,000	149,510,000	1.1%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	122,515,000	125,821,000	2.7%
Tax Professionals	77,268,000	77,875,000	0.8%
Self-prepared	45,247,000	47,946,000	6.0%
Total Refunds:
Number	109,563,000	109,499,000	-0.1%
Amount	$301.836 Bill.	$305.734 Bill.	1.3%
Average refund	$2,755	$2,792	1.4%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	83,836,000	83,995,000	0.2%
Amount	$245.596 Bill.	$245.088 Bill.	-0.02%
Average refund	$2,929	$2,918	-0.4%

2013 Tax Season (2012 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of Dec. 28, 2012, and Dec. 27, 2013)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2012	2013	% Change
Total Receipts	148,203,000	148,035,000	-0.1%
Total Processed	147,697,000	147,725,000	0.02%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	119,560,000	122,515,000	2.5%
Tax Professionals	76,322,000	77,268,000	1.2%
Self-prepared	43,238,000	45,247,000	4.6%
Total Refunds:
Number	110,471,000	109,563,000	-0.8%
Amount	$309.648 Bill.	$301.863 Bill.	-2.5%
Average refund	$2,803	$2,755	-1.7%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	82,809,000	83,814,000	1.2%
Amount	$247.1269 Bill.	$245.464 Bill.	-0.7%
Average refund	$2,984	$2,929	-1.9%

2012 Tax Season (2011 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of Dec. 30, 2011, and Dec. 03, 2012)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2011	2012	% Change
Total Receipts	145,320,000	148,390,000	+2.1%
Total Processed	145,062,000	147,891,000	+1.9%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	112,203,000	119,589,000	+6.6%
Tax Professionals	72,403,000	76,019,000	5.0%
Self-prepared	33,998,000	38,272,000	+12.6%
Total Refunds:
Number	101,820,000	102,728,000	+0.9%
Amount	$293.263 Bill.	$288.151 Bill.	-1.7%
Average refund	$2,880	$2,805	-2.6%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	72,056,000	76,276,000	+5.9%
Amount	$226.061 Bill.	$232.312 Bill.	+2.8%
Average refund	$3,137	$3,046	-2.9%

2011 Tax Season (2010 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of Jun. 06, 2010, and Jun. 03, 2011)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2010	2011	% Change
Total Receipts	132,050,000	133,808,000	+1.3%
Total Processed	129,054,000	132,530,000	+2.7%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	94,604,000	106,233,000	+12.3%
Tax Professionals	60,607,000	67,962,000	+12.1%
Self-prepared	39,800,000	43,570,000	+9.4%
Total Refunds:
Number	109,330,000	110,471,000	+1.0%
Amount	$318.529 Bill.	$309.648 Bill.	-2.8%
Average refund	$2,913	$2,803	-3.8%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	79,146,000	82,827,000	+4.7%
Amount	$246.080 Bill.	$247.209 Bill.	+0.5%
Average refund	$3,109	$2,985	-4.0%

2010 Tax Season (2009 Tax Year) e-File Statistics

(Cumulative statistics as of Nov. 06, 2009, and Nov. 05, 2010)

Individual Income Tax Returns	2009	2010	% Change
Total Receipts	143,529,000	141,536,000	-1.4%
Total Processed	143,079,000	141,536,000	-1.4%
e-Filing Receipts:
Total	95,478,000	98,740,000	3.4%
Tax Professionals	63,285,000	63,893,000	1.0%
Self-prepared	32,193,000	34,847,000	8.2%
Total Refunds:
Number	111,163,000	108,923,000	-2.0%
Amount	$315.290 Bill.	$326.125 Bill.	3.4%
Average refund	$2,836	$2,994	5.6%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	72,982,000	74,460,000	2.0%
Amount	$220.250 Bill.	$237.444 Bill.	7.8%
Average refund	$3,018	$3,189	5.7%

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