IR-2015-57: Taxpayers in Increasing Numbers Find Help from IRS.gov

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent this bulletin at 03/20/2015 09:55 AM EDT

IRS Newswire

March 20, 2015

Issue Number: IR-2015-57

Inside This Issue

Taxpayers in Increasing Numbers Find Help from IRS.gov

WASHINGTON — As taxpayers are preparing their returns, they continue to turn to the information and tools on IRS.gov, which can assist anyone preparing a return.

Visits to IRS.gov have increased by 11 percent compared to the same time last year, totaling more than 215 million visits according to filing season statistics released today. There have been 15 million new visits in just the past week.

Taxpayers who have filed their returns and are waiting for their refunds can use the “Where’s my Refund?” tool, which has been accessed 164 million times as of March 13. The site 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.

More than 11 million copies of previously filed tax information have been obtained online with the IRS “Get Transcript” application. In the past, these inquiries, which are now being answered online, would have required the taxpayer to order it by phone and wait up to 10 calendar days for it to arrive in the mail or visit an IRS office for a copy.

Four other frequently used tools on IRS.gov include Request an Electronic Filing PIN , Find Answers to Your Tax Questions , Check Status of Your Amended Return and Renew or Obtain a PTIN for 2015.

From access to tax forms, instructions and publications to online tools, such as the Interactive Tax Assistant, IRS.gov can answer most taxpayer questions — getting taxpayers the tax help they need, when they need it.

IRS information is also available through e-readers and other mobile devices as an eBook. If taxpayers still need printed forms or instructions, they can place their order online at IRS.gov/orderforms. Publication 17 is only available from the IRS online, and certain other products like Form 1040 EZ and Form 1099-Misc are not available at TACs this year. Similarly, the tax forms available from community partners, like libraries, have also been reduced.

[The filing season statistics table follows.]

—30—

2014 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative statistics comparing 3/14/14 and 3/13/15
Individual Income Tax Returns:	2014		2015		% Change
Total Receipts	75,101,000		74,455,000		-0.9
Total Processed	73,157,000		72,706,000		-0.6

E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	68,966,000		69,189,000		0.3
Tax Professionals	39,413,000		38,089,000		-3.4
Self-prepared	29,553,000		31,100,000		5.2

Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	194,206,816		215,612,739		11

Total Refunds:
Number	61,645,000		60,320,000		-2.1
Amount	$179.793	Billion	$177.240	Billion	-1.4
Average refund	$2,917		$2,938		0.7

Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	52,770,000		53,485,000		1.4
Amount	$158.983	Billion	$164.407	Billion	3.4
Average refund	$3,013		$3,074		2.0

Thank you for subscribing to the IRS Newswire, an IRS e-mail service.

If you know someone who might want to subscribe to this mailing list, please forward this message to them so they can subscribe.

This message was distributed automatically from the mailing list IRS Newswire. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

IR-2015-57: Taxpayers in Increasing Numbers Find Help from IRS.gov

News Essentials

The Newsroom Topics

IRS Resources

Issue Number: IR-2015-57

Inside This Issue