Statistics on Income Tax Returns, Forms, Collections
Taxes are important, but they are often the last thing on people's minds. Just take a look at today's Taxpayer Roadmap - it's a tax jungle! Learn more about Tax History and Tax Code in the United States or see Tax Returns by U.S. Presidents over time. The history of eFile or electronic tax filing started around 1987; see tax return e-File statistics and direct deposit information.
Tax Returns &
e-file Statistics
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%.
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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. See detailed e-File tax return statistical data and a wide range of Tax Year 2019 statistics.
Over 67 million self-prepared 2020 Returns were e-filed in 2021. Do it yourself tax preparation allows individual taxpayers to file taxes without the help of a tax professional.
Why eFile? Find out!See future projections for IRS campus tax return statistics for 2021 - 2028 and projected income tax returns for 2021 - 2028.
IRS Income Tax Return and Form Data by Tax Year
The table below is organized by the tax year, total tax returns (1040), e-filed tax returns designated by 1040 (e), and tax returns by expired versions of the Form 1040. Many of the Form 1040 forms have been made obsolete as the IRS simplified the Form 1040 for 2018 Returns.
2021
169,098,000
152,300,000
n/a
n/a
2020
167,634,000
151,681,000
n/a
n/a
2019
169,684,000
152,802,000
n/a
n/a
2018
155,798,000
138,217,000
n/a
n/a
2017
154,444,000
135,459,000
39,621,000
24,844,000
2016
152,235,000
132,319,000
40,007,000
23,775,000
2015
152,544,000
131,851,000
40,466,000
23,854,000
2014
150,927,000
128,784,000
40,701,000
23,218,000
2013
149,684,000
125,821,000
39,406,000
23,290,000
2012
148,203,000
119,560,000
38,234,000
23,053,000
2011
137,200,000
113,074,000
38,598,000
22,583,000
2010
145,320,000
112,203,000
40,810,000
18,010,000
As e-filing has become more trusted amongst taxpayers, the amount of e-filed tax returns has gone up while paper filed tax returns has decreased. Online tax preparation and e-filing is the simplest way you get your taxes done. Prepare and e-file your taxes on eFile.com with 100% accuracy. See an IRS report of the 2021 Tax Filing Season for 2020 Returns.
IRS Income Tax Return Forms, Schedules by Tax Year
The PDF documents below show IRS statistics by tax year for each form. See how many taxpayers filed Schedule C, how many taxpayers claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit, and more.
IRS Total Gross & Net Tax Collection by Tax Year
Find IRS statistics below on the amount of taxes they collected during a tax year (gross taxes), the total dollar amount of tax refunds issued, and the average refund amount. The net tax amount the IRS collects in a year would be the total gross taxes minus the amount in refunds issued. For example, in 2020, the IRS collected around $3.5 trillion in taxes, but issued around $320 billion in tax refunds for 2019 Returns filed in 2020. This would result in a net tax amount of $3.18 trillion the IRS collected for the year.
2020
$3.5 trillion
$320.114 billion
$2,851
2019
$3.56 trillion
$269.261 billion
$2,622
2018
$3.5 trillion
$274.253 billion
$2,979
2017
$3.3 trillion
$272.980 billion
$3,031
2016
$3.4 trillion
$270.824 billion
$3,026
2015
$3.3 trillion
$317.615 billion
$2,860
2014
$3.3 trillion
$306.016 billion
$2,797
2013
$3.1 trillion
$305.734 billion
$2,792
2012
$2.9 trillion
309.648 billion
$2,984
2011
$2.5 trillion
282.813 billion
$2,707
2010
$2.4 trillion
318.529 billion
$3,109
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