An analysis of data from the 2019 U.S. individual income tax filing season reveals several notable trends and changes. These statistics not only reflect subtle shifts in taxpayer behavior but may also influence future tax strategies and financial planning. In this article, we examine various tax filing statistics between 2018 and 2019 to provide valuable insights.

1. Overall Filing Trends

According to the data, as of October 18, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) received a total of 154,297,000 individual income tax returns, representing a 0.6% increase from the 153,383,000 returns filed in 2018. Similarly, the total number of processed returns grew by the same margin, from 152,827,000 in 2018 to 153,721,000 in 2019. This growth indicates that despite changing policies and economic conditions, taxpayers remained actively engaged in the filing season.

2. The Rise of E-Filing

A particularly significant trend was the continued growth of electronic filing. In 2019, the total volume of e-filed returns reached 137,866,000, marking a 2.0% increase from 135,154,000 in 2018. Professional tax preparers submitted 80,294,000 e-filed returns, showing a modest 0.4% growth, while self-prepared e-files surged to 57,572,000 returns—a 4.4% increase. This shift reflects growing adoption of self-service tax tools, including tax software and online platforms.

3. Increased Website Traffic

The IRS website also experienced substantial growth in visits. In 2019, the site recorded 596,722,000 visits, a 6.7% increase from 559,158,000 in 2018. This data suggests not only greater demand for tax information but also potentially indicates increased public awareness about tax-related knowledge and self-filing.

4. Refund Patterns

Regarding refunds, the total number issued in 2019 slightly decreased to 110,582,000, down 0.2% from 110,806,000 in 2018. While the quantity declined, the total refund amount dropped by 1.7% to $307.56 billion from $312.97 billion. The average refund amount decreased by 1.5% to $2,781 compared to $2,825 in 2018.

Direct deposit refunds showed different patterns: the total number increased by 2.2% to 91,544,000 in 2019 from 89,537,000 in 2018, while the total amount saw a modest 0.3% rise to $268.66 billion. However, the average direct deposit refund amount declined by 1.9% to $2,935 from $2,991.

Conclusion

The 2019 tax filing season data reveals emerging trends, particularly the growth of electronic filing and self-service tax tools. While refund numbers decreased slightly, taxpayer participation remained strong. Looking ahead, these patterns will provide important guidance for both tax policy development and personal financial management. In this evolving tax landscape, taxpayers must stay informed about these developments to effectively navigate their tax obligations.