John,

Is this a surprise with more states like Michigan mandating
e-filing?

--
Regards,
Mark Rigotti

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IR-2004-25, Feb. 27, 2004

EARLY RETURNS REFLECT MORE E-FILING

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service said today that electronic
filing has shown a sharp increase for this year's early filers.

Through February 20, overall e-filing reached 29 million returns, an
increase of more than 2 million, or 8 percent, over the same period last
year. More than 6.6 million taxpayers have e-filed from their personal
computers, a 23 percent increase

"E-filing is off to another good start," said IRS Commissioner Mark W.
Everson. "More and more taxpayers are discovering the benefits of e-file."

E-filing is fast, safe and accurate. By choosing to have their refunds
deposited directly to a bank account, e-filers can have the money in two
weeks or less.

The early refund statistics show that:
- The IRS has certified 31.8 million refunds, an increase of 4.1 percent
over the same time last year.
- The refunds total $72.8 billion, up from $66.9 billion.
- The average refund is up $97, to $2,292 - a 4.5 percent increase.
- Three out of four taxpayers receiving refunds had them deposited
directly to their bank accounts. Direct deposit - the fastest, safest and
most convenient way to get a refund - is available to all filers.

2004 FILING SEASON STATISTICS

Cumulative through the week ending 2/21/03 and 2/20/04

2003 2004 % Change

Individual Income Tax Returns

Total Receipts 39,078,000 40,110,000 2.6
Total Processed 32,936,000 34,328,000 4.2

E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL 27,019,000 29,145,000 7.9
TeleFile (phone) 2,509,000 2,330,000 - 7.1
Computer 24,510,000 26,815,000 9.4
Tax Professionals 19,121,000 20,184,000 5.6
Self-prepared 5,389,000 6,631,000 23.0

Tax Year 2003 Refunds Certified:

Number 30,507,000 31,753,000 4.1
Amount of principal $ 66.948 billion $ 72.792 billion 8.7
Average refund $2,195 $2,292 4.5

Direct Deposit Refunds:

Number 22,470,000 24,195,000 7.7
Amount $ 55.816 billion $ 61.892 billion 10.9
Average $2,484 $2,558 3.0

"Jack" - John H. Fisher - TaxService[at]aol.com
Philadelphia, Pa - Atlantic City, NJ - West Wildwood, NJ
My Newsgroups & Boards at: http://members.aol.com/TaxService/index.html

Where Ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise!=

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