During every tax season, millions of taxpayers diligently prepare and submit their individual income tax returns. But what do the actual filing statistics reveal about year-over-year changes? Recent data released by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the 2024 filing season shows several noteworthy trends and variations. A comparison of key metrics between 2024 and 2023 provides a revealing snapshot of taxpayer activity.
2024 vs. 2023 Tax Filing Season Statistics
According to the IRS report through March 1, 2024, several key indicators show significant differences between the two years:
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total returns filed | 54,948,000 | 54,030,000 | -1.7 |
| Total returns processed | 54,341,000 | 53,231,000 | -2.0 |
| Total e-filed returns | 53,598,000 | 52,795,000 | -1.5 |
| E-filed by tax professionals | 25,210,000 | 24,516,000 | -2.8 |
| Self-prepared e-filings | 28,387,000 | 28,279,000 | -0.4 |
| IRS website visits | 289,829,000 | 337,328,000 | +16.4 |
| Total refunds issued | 42,040,000 | 36,288,000 | -13.7 |
| Total refund amount | $12.731 billion | $11.5465 billion | -9.3 |
| Average refund amount | $3,028 | $3,182 | +5.1 |
| Direct deposit refunds | 39,907,000 | 35,369,000 | -11.4 |
| Direct deposit refund amount | $12.4305 billion | $11.474 billion | -7.7 |
| Average direct deposit refund | $3,115 | $3,244 | +4.1 |
The data reveals that while both the number of returns filed and processed showed modest declines in 2024 compared to 2023, electronic filing remained stable - particularly among self-prepared returns where the change was minimal (-0.4%). This suggests taxpayers continue embracing digital filing methods, which improve efficiency while reducing paper usage.
Refund Trends
Despite decreases in both the total number and dollar amount of refunds issued in 2024, the average refund amount increased by 5.1%. This may indicate that qualifying taxpayers received larger refunds even as overall filing activity saw some fluctuation. The data also shows a reduction in direct deposit refunds, suggesting some taxpayers may be opting for alternative refund methods.
Conclusion
The 2024 tax season shows a strong start across key metrics, despite modest declines compared to 2023. Stable electronic filing rates and refund amounts demonstrate the IRS systems are functioning effectively. Taxpayers should monitor these trends to optimize their filing strategy and maximize potential refunds.
As the tax season progresses, careful planning and accurate return preparation will help ensure timely processing and receipt of any refunds due.