During every tax season, active taxpayer participation remains a central concern for every economy. For individuals, businesses, and other organizations alike, filing taxes impacts both government revenue and citizens' personal interests. However, tax filing methods, efficiency, and taxpayer satisfaction continue to evolve. Recent data reveals notable changes in filing trends between 2017 and the week ending February 2, 2018, particularly regarding submission efficiency and refund distribution—shifts that have captured the attention of tax experts, policymakers, and ordinary taxpayers.
Declining Filing Numbers Raise Questions
Despite an active 2018 tax season, data shows a slight decrease in individual income tax returns. According to recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) statistics, approximately 18.302 million individual income tax returns were filed by February 2, 2018—down from 20.181 million during the same period in 2017, representing a 9.3% decline . This trend persists even as overall economic conditions continue to improve, prompting analysis of potential contributing factors.
The statistics also reveal a significant drop in processed returns— 17.931 million in 2018 compared to 19.968 million in 2017 ( 10.2% decrease ). Analysts suggest this may reflect declining taxpayer confidence in self-filing, particularly as tax laws grow increasingly complex, driving more filers to seek professional assistance.
Electronic Filing Experiences Unexpected Downturn
Electronic filing (e-filing) data shows similar declines, with 17.518 million e-files received in 2018 versus 19.407 million in 2017 ( 9.7% drop ). Professional-prepared returns fell 13.5% ( 5.800 million from 6.744 million ), while self-prepared returns decreased 7.2% ( 10.774 million from 11.611 million ). These figures highlight challenges in modernizing traditional filing methods.
Contrasting this trend, IRS website visits surged 8.7% to 74.401 million in 2018 from 68.464 million , indicating growing taxpayer reliance on digital platforms for information and services—potentially offsetting some filing inconveniences.
Refund Distribution Trends
By February 2, 2018, the IRS issued 6.171 million refunds totaling $12.56 billion , down 6.4% and 4.5% respectively from 2017's 6.596 million refunds worth $13.15 billion . However, average refund amounts rose 2.1% to $2,035 from $1,994 , offering financial relief to eligible taxpayers despite fewer overall refunds.
Direct deposit refunds followed this pattern— 5.860 million issued in 2018 ( $12.21 billion ; average $2,084 ) compared to 6.220 million in 2017 ( $12.75 billion ; average $2,050 ).
Policy Implications and Future Directions
These trends emerge amid evolving tax policies and regulations, with many taxpayers opting for professional assistance over self-filing. This shift underscores changing needs for information accessibility and expert support.
Government and tax authorities could enhance online services—through tax guides, interactive questionnaires, and consultation tools—to improve taxpayer knowledge and self-filing confidence. Simultaneously, expanding taxpayer education about rights, obligations, and digital tools remains crucial for optimizing the filing experience.
As economic conditions and tax policies evolve, maintaining an efficient, transparent, and fair tax environment requires ongoing policy adjustments and robust taxpayer-agency communication—particularly during peak filing periods.
Despite 2018's declines, sustained taxpayer engagement with information services suggests opportunities for improvement. By addressing feedback and implementing innovative solutions, tax authorities can foster a more effective system that benefits all stakeholders.