IR-2015-46: Visits to IRS Website Increase as Taxpayers Turn to IRS.gov for Answers During Filing Season

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent this bulletin at 03/12/2015 02:35 PM EDT

IRS Newswire

March 12, 2015

Issue Number: IR-2015-46

Inside This Issue

Visits to IRS Website Increase as Taxpayers Turn to IRS.gov for Answers During Filing Season

WASHINGTON — Americans have turned to IRS.gov nearly 200 million times so far this tax filing season where they can find answers on topics ranging from tax preparation to checking their refund status. This is a 10 percent increase in comparison to the same time last year, according to IRS statistics released today.

In addition to various interactive tools, IRS.gov is the gateway to many more resources and answers about many tax matters. Try Interactive Tax Assistant, Tax Topics, Tax Trails, Frequently Asked Questions, and the IRS Tax Map.

Taxpayers can easily and quickly view or download any IRS form, publication or instruction booklet by visiting IRS.gov. If taxpayers still need printed forms or instructions, they can place their order online at IRS.gov/orderforms. Publication 17, and certain other products are not available at TACs this year. Similarly, the tax forms available from community partners, like libraries, have also been reduced.

Even after taxpayers file, there are more online tools that can provide them with valuable assistance long after tax season ends. One of the most popular is the Where’s My Refund? tool available on IRS.gov or IRS2Go that enables taxpayers to track the status of their refund. Initial information will normally be available within 24 hours after the IRS receives the taxpayer’s e-filed return or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return to the IRS. The system updates every 24 hours, so there’s no need to check more often.

[The filing season statistics table follows.]

2014 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative statistics comparing 3/07/14 and 3/06/15
Individual Income Tax Returns:	2014		2015		% Change
Total Receipts	67,183,000		66,700,000		-0.7
Total Processed	65,662,000		64,900,000		-1.2

E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	62,213,000		62,342,000		0.2
Tax Professionals	34,816,000		33,419,000		-4.0
Self-prepared	27,397,000		28,923,000		5.6

Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	179,637,790		198,440,750		10.5

Total Refunds:
Number	55,434,000		54,258,000		-2.1
Amount	$164.586	Billion	$162.106	Billion	-1.5
Average refund	$2,969		$2,988		0.6

Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	47,976,000		48,699,000		1.5
Amount	$146.305	Billion	$151.554	Billion	3.6
Average refund	$3,050		$3,112		2.0

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IR-2015-46: Visits to IRS Website Increase as Taxpayers Turn to IRS.gov for Answers During Filing Season

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Issue Number: IR-2015-46

Inside This Issue