1986-2006 Individual Income Tax Return Stats

Tax Year 1986-2006 Individual Income Tax Return Statistics by Selected Descending and Ascending Cumulative Percentiles - Tax Year 1986-2006 individual income tax return statistics by selected descending and ascending cumulative percentiles are now available. These updated tables show historical statistics from 1986 through 2006 on income and tax by cumulative percentiles based on numbers of returns. The tables show distributions of adjusted gross income (AGI) and total income tax, as defined for each tax year, by descending and ascending cumulative percentiles of returns in both current and constant dollars. They can be used to make comparisons across cumulative percentile classes beginning with Tax Year 1986. Table 1 is based on percentiles of returns cumulated downward from the highest income return and shows data for the top 1 percent, 5 percent, 10 percent, 25 percent, and 50 percent of returns with positive amounts of AGI. Table 2 is based on returns cumulated upward from the lowest income returns and shows for the bottom 50 percent, 75 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent, and 99 percent of returns with positive amounts of AGI.

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Individual Income Tax Return Statistics by Geographic Area

Individual Income Tax Return Statistics by Geographic Area – Updated statistics from individual income tax returns classified by geographic area are now available. County Income Data for Tax Year 2006 include total and selected sources of income, as well as the number of returns and personal exemptions, and are presented by county and State. Statistics for Tax Years 1989 through 2005 are also available. County-to-County Migration Data for Filing Years 2006-2007 include income items and the number of returns and personal exemptions. Data present migration patterns by county for the entire United States, including inflows and outflows. Data are also available for Filing Years 1984 through 2006. State-to-State Migration Data for Filing Years 2006-2007 also include income items, number of returns, and personal exemptions. Data present migration patterns, by State, for the entire United States. Data are also available for Filing Years 1989 through 2006. All statistics are based on addresses shown on the population of returns from the IRS Individual Master File. Examples of income and migration statistics are available free of charge, and complete statistics are available for purchase.
(July 2008)

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2008 Filing Season Statistics

2008 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative through the weeks ending 4/3/07 and 4/4/08
Individual Income Tax Returns	2007		2008		% Change
Total Receipts	88,581,000		96,821,000		9.3%
Total Processed	84,215,000		90,064,000		6.9%
E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	61,345,000		67,437,000		9.9%
Tax Professionals	44,210,000		47,184,000		6.7%
Self-prepared	17,135,000		20,253,000		18.2%
Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	109,353,000		132,444,000		21.1%
Total Refunds:
Number	73,622,000		75,136,000		2.1%
Amount	$174.165	Billion	$183.043	Billion	5.1%
Average refund	$2,366		$2,436		3.0%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	49,935,000		53,694,000		7.5%
Amount	$136.605	Billion	$147.164	Billion	7.7%
Average refund	$2,736		$2,741		0.2%

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Updated 2008 Tax Season Filing Stats

WASHINGTON — The continued growth of Free File shows taxpayers are taking advantage of the program’s benefits, which include free electronic return preparation and filing of tax returns, as well as quicker refunds with direct deposit.

The number of tax returns filed via Free File as of the end of February has jumped more than 12 percent compared with the same period last year, the Internal Revenue Service said.

“Free File provides an opportunity for taxpayers to prepare and file their tax returns electronically for free,” said Acting IRS Commissioner Linda E. Stiff. “Free File is also available to individuals who normally do not file a tax return but must do so this year in order to qualify for the economic stimulus payment.”

Free File is run by the IRS and the Free File Alliance, LLC, a private-sector consortium of tax software companies. Over 22 million taxpayers have used Free File since its inception. Their partnership is intended to provide taxpayers earning $54,000 or less with a free, safe and quick way to prepare and file their taxes. Free File is available to 70 percent of taxpayers

Use of Free File, like electronic filing in general, continues to see steady growth. Nearly 3.0 million taxpayers used Free File as of the end of February, compared with 2.6 million who used it during the same period last year.

Customer satisfaction with Free File also remains high. Taxpayers find the program to be easy and convenient to use. Individuals who e-file using the Free File program can get their refunds in as little as 10 days with direct deposit. Also Free File has been improved in the last few years to ensure taxpayers aren't subjected to marketing and advertising messages while preparing their returns.

The IRS works with Free File partners to enhance the Free File program when new tax laws are enacted. For instance, changes were made to Free File to accommodate recently enacted legislation creating the economic stimulus payment and expanding the

exclusion for debt forgiveness, which is targeted to taxpayers who have lost their homes because of difficulty with their mortgage payments.

IRS Free File also is now available to people who normally do not file a tax return but must do so this year to receive their 2008 economic stimulus payment. People who have no legal requirement to file other than to receive their payments should take care to use only those companies listed on the Free File - Economic Stimulus Payment page at IRS.gov.

While not all Free File offerings serve all taxpayers, the Free File assistor can be used to guide taxpayers to the Free File offering that is right for them.

2008 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative through the weeks ending 3/16/07 and 3/14/08
Individual Income Tax Returns	2007		2008		% Change
Total Receipts	67,705,000		71,028,000		4.9%
Total Processed	63,799,000		66,656,000		4.5%
E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	49,401,000		53,359,000		8.0%
Tax Professionals	35,105,000		36,771,000		4.7%
Self-prepared	14,296,000		16,588,000		16.0%
Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	88,834,000		100,660,000		13.3%
Total Refunds:
Number	57,434,000		59,199,000		3.1%
Amount	$141.680	Billion	$149.621	Billion	5.6%
Average refund	$2,467		$2,527		2.5%
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	42,057,000		45,023,000		7.1%
Amount	$117.429	Billion	$126.127	Billion	7.4%
Average refund	$2,792		$2,801		0.3%

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IRS Announces Economic Stimulus Payment Schedules, Provides Online Payment Calculator

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that it will begin sending more than 130 million economic stimulus payments starting May 2. The initial round of weekly payments will be completed by early July.

The IRS also announced the availability of a new online calculator on IRS.gov to help people determine the amount of their stimulus payments.

Stimulus payments will be made by direct deposit to people who choose to receive their 2007 income tax refunds through direct deposit. All others will receive their economic stimulus payments in the form of a paper check.

“To receive an economic stimulus payment, people just need to file their tax returns as they usually do,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Linda E. Stiff. “The payments will be automatic for the vast majority of taxpayers. Some lower-income workers and recipients of certain Social Security and veterans benefits who don’t normally need to file a tax return will need to do so in order to receive a stimulus payment. IRS.gov has all the information people need to help them obtain a stimulus payment.”

Stimulus payments will be sent out in the order of the last two digits of the Social Security number used on the tax return.

Because the IRS will use the Social Security number to determine when checks are mailed, taxpayers may receive their checks at different times than their neighbors or other family members. On a jointly filed return, the first Social Security number listed will determine the mail-out time.

The IRS expects to make about 34 million payments within the first three weeks after the payment schedule begins May 2. With more than 130 million households expected to receive stimulus payments, more than 25 percent of the payments will be made in the first three weeks.

Taxpayers who choose direct deposit on their federal income tax returns can expect to receive their economic stimulus payments between May 2 and May 16 provided their returns were received and processed by April 15, 2008. For taxpayers who did not choose direct deposit on their tax return but whose returns were processed by April 15, the paper checks will be in the mail starting May 16, with the initial mailings completed by around July 11.

The IRS is also announcing today the availability of an on-line calculator on IRS.gov to help taxpayers determine if they are eligible to receive an economic stimulus payment and if they are, how much they can expect. Anyone who has prepared a 2007 income tax return can use the calculator. It will ask taxpayers a series of questions, so they should have their 2007 tax returns handy. After answering the questions, the calculator will provide the projected dollar value of the payment.

Below are the schedules for economic stimulus payments related to tax returns processed by April 15, 2008.

Stimulus Payment Schedule for Tax Returns
Received and Processed by April 15

Direct Deposit Payments
If the last two digits of your Social Security number are:	Your economic stimulus payment deposit should be sent to your bank account by:
00 – 20	May 2
21 – 75	May 9
76 – 99	May 16
Paper Check
If the last two digits of your Social Security number are:	Your check should be in the mail by:
00 – 09	May 16
10 – 18	May 23
19 – 25	May 30
26 – 38	June 6
39 – 51	June 13
52 – 63	June 20
64 – 75	June 27
76 – 87	July 4
88 – 99	July 11

A small percentage of tax returns will require additional time to process and to compute a stimulus payment amount. For these returns, stimulus payments may not be issued in accordance with the schedule above, even if the tax return was processed by April 15.

All or part of an economic stimulus payment may be applied to back taxes or certain other debts of the taxpayer, such as delinquent child support and student loans. In such cases, the IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer explaining the offset.

To accommodate people whose tax returns are processed after April 15, the IRS will continue sending weekly payments. People who file tax returns after April 15 and receive a refund can expect to receive their economic stimulus payments in about two weeks after receiving their tax refunds, but not before the date they would have received their payment if the return had been processed by April 15. To ensure taxpayers receive their stimulus payment this year, they must file a tax return by Oct. 15.

Two bureaus of the Treasury Department are involved in making the payments. The IRS will calculate the amount of each economic stimulus payment based on the tax year 2007 income tax returns it receives. The IRS will then forward the information to the Financial Management Service (FMS), which is the bureau of the Treasury Department that makes federal payments such as Social Security benefits, federal income tax refunds and, now, economic stimulus payments.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that they can get their stimulus payments faster by using direct deposit when they file their tax return.

In addition, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically. For people who normally don’t need to file a tax return, the IRS and Free File Alliance have a special program set up to allow for free electronic filing.

Related Link: Podcast on Economic Stimulus Payements

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IRS Releases 2007 Data Book

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today released the 2007 IRS Data Book, which is an annual snapshot of IRS activities for a given fiscal year.

The report describes activities of the IRS from Oct. 1, 2006, to Sept. 30, 2007, and includes information about returns filed, tax collections, enforcement, taxpayer assistance, as well as the IRS budget and workforce.

During fiscal year 2007, the IRS collected almost $2.4 trillion in taxes (net of refunds) and processed more than 235 million returns. More than 114 million individual income tax return filers received tax refunds that totaled $248.6 billion. In fiscal year 2007, IRS spent an average of 40 cents to collect each $100 of tax revenue, which was the lowest in seven years and down from 42 cents per $100 in fiscal year 2006.

IRS examined nearly 1.4 million individual income tax returns in fiscal year 2007. IRS personnel answered more than 33.2 million toll-free calls from taxpayers during the fiscal year, and the IRS Web site received about 215 million visits.

An electronic version of the 2007 IRS Data Book can be found on the Tax Stats page of www.irs.gov.

Printed copies of the IRS Data Book, Publication 55B, will be available by mid-April 2008 from the U.S. Government Printing Office. To obtain a copy, write to the Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954, or call (202) 512-1800 for voicemail, or fax a request to (202) 512-225
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