Americans appear to be filing their 2016 income tax returns at a slower rate than last year, but those who have are seeing an average of $46 more in their refund check.
The latest filing season statistics from the Internal Revenue Service showed an average refund of $2,878, a 1.4 percent increase over last year’s average of $2,832 at this stage of the return season.
In comparing return statistics of 2016 and 2017 two weeks before the close of the season, the IRS said that it has received 4.1 percent fewer returns and also processed 3.9 percent fewer.
So far, 93 million have filed compared to 97 million at this time in 2016.
E-filings are also down 3.8 percent, said the IRS. Taxes must be filed by next Tuesday, April 18.
One interesting stat: Those who receive direct deposit refunds are getting an average of $3,031, an average of $42 more than last year.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
