Statistics on Income Tax Returns, Forms, Collections

Taxes are important, but they are often the last thing on people's minds. Learn more about Tax History and Tax Code in the United States. Review Tax Returns by US Presidents over time. The history of eFile or electronic tax filing that started around 1987. Detailed tax return e-File statistics and direct deposit information over time. Just take a look at today's Taxpayer Roadmap - it's a tax jungle!

According to a 2020 WalletHub survey, if given a choice, people would rather do any of the following than their taxes:

Jury duty: 50%
Talk to their kids about sex: 24%
Miss a connecting flight: 24%
Swim with sharks: 14%
Spend the night in jail: 11%
Drink expired milk: 10%

The WalletHub survey also asked people about their biggest Tax Day fears:

Making a math mistake: 30%
Not having enough money: 30%
Identity theft: 21%
Getting audited: 19%

If you would rather do your taxes or do not have a Tax Day fear, review the IRS Tax Return statistics below. This page is continuously being updated as data and statics become available. Detailed e-File tax return statistical data and a wide range of Tax Year 2019 statistics.

Historical tax return statistics.

Projected income tax returns for 2020 - 2027.

IRS Income Tax Return and Form Data by Tax Year

Tax Year	Tax Returns	1040 (T)	1040A (T)	1040EZ (T)	1040 (e)	1040A (e)	1040EZ (e)
2019	154,094,555	153,130,682	N/A	N/A	**	N/A	N/A
2018	152,937,949	151,934,683	N/A	N/A	137,645,234	N/A	N/A
2017	150,690,787	149,837,784	39,621,455	24,844,519	75,826,047	36,842,523	22,348,023
2016	150,711,378	149,804,477	40,007,370	23,775,765	73,560,523	36,945,040	21,112,732
2015	150,493,263	85,937,245	40,701,100	23,854,918	72,161,422	37,738,135	21,379,809
2014	148,606,579	84,921,477	40,466,308	23,218,794	70,440,578	37,206,180	20,472,145
2013	147,351,299	84,654,613	39,406,366	23,290,320	69,350,524	35,890,253	20,077,203
2012	144,928,472	83,631,395	38,243,922	23,053,156	87,402,503	34,305,758	18,605,988
2011	145,370,240	84,189,061	38,598,005	22,583,173	66,003,531	34,207,257	18,709,798
2010	142,892,050	84,071,480	40,810,489	18,010,081	62,427,066	35,419,288	13,713,200

*) Source IRS publications: (T) Total Forms - (e) e-filed Forms

**) To be updated when IRS releases 2018 publication

IRS Income Tax Return Forms, Schedules by Tax Year

Tax Year	Tax Forms, Schedules
2018	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2017	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2016	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2015	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2014	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2013	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2012	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2011	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year
2010	IRS Income Tax Return Forms and Schedules by Tax Year

Total Income and Salaries, Wages Income by Tax Year

Tax Year	Total Income***	Salaries, Wages***
2018	$ 11,785,277	$ 7,907,550
2017	$ 11,170,082	$ 7,577,564
2016	$ 10,379,352	$ 7,217,426
2015	$ 10,360,403	$ 7,122,223
2014	$ 9,916,220	$ 6,784,948
2013	$ 9,233,511	$ 6,475,381
2012	$ 9,234,159	$ 6,301,358
2011	$ 8,498,486	$ 6,055,389
2010	$ 8,208,441	$ 5,837,350

IRS Total Gross & Net Tax Collection by Tax Year

Tax Year	Gross Taxes**	Refunds**	Net Taxes**
2019	$ 3,564,583,961	$ 452,103,909	$ 3,112,480,052
2018	$ 3,465,466,627	$ 463,884,727	$ 3,001,581,900
2017	$ 3,416,714,139	$ 436,972,873	$ 2,979,742,266
2016	$ 3,333,449,083	$ 426,146,066	$ 2,907,303,017
2015	$ 3,302,677,258	$ 403,272,691	$ 2,899,404,567
2014	$ 3,064,301,358	$ 373,545,926	$ 2,690,755,432
2013	$ 2,855,059,420	$ 364,353,723	$ 2,490,705,698
2012	$ 2,524,320,134	$ 373,428,754	$ 2,150,891,380
2011	$ 2,414,952,112	$ 415,880,344	$ 1,999,071,767
2010	$ 2,345,055,978	$ 467,302,973	$ 1,877,753,005

***)Million US Dollars

**)Thousand US Dollars

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