https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Smart Cities & Technology


E-File Continues to Run at Record Pace

E-File Continues to Run at Record Pace

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that taxpayers are continuing to electronically file their tax returns at a record pace, up almost 6 percent
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 3rd April 2007

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that taxpayers are continuing to electronically file their tax returns at a record pace, up almost 6 percent from the same period last year.

“Taxpayers can rely on e-file as a safe, accurate way to quickly finish their taxes and get a refund,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “We encourage people to consider e-file and Free File as the tax deadline approaches. For those who haven’t filed, they should make sure to request the telephone excise tax refund if they are eligible.”

According to the new filing season statistics for the week ending March 23, 2007, one of the biggest areas of growth is in returns electronically filed from home. Self-prepared e-filed returns have grown more than 8 percent from last year. E-filed returns from tax professionals have climbed almost 5 percent.

So far this tax filing season, almost 72 percent of all returns have been e-filed, compared to 68 percent for the same period last year. As of last Friday, 29 percent of e-filed returns were filed by people using their home computers, up from 28 percent of e-filed returns for the same period last year.

Also, more people than ever before are opting to have their refunds directly deposited. So far this year, the IRS has directly deposited almost 45 million refunds, or 71 percent of all refunds issued this tax filing season, up from almost 69 percent of the total for the same period last year.

People are visiting the IRS Web site at IRS.gov in record numbers. The IRS has recorded more than 97 million unique visits to IRS.gov this year, up from about 89 million for the same period last year, an increase of almost 9 percent.

Meanwhile, this year’s filings still show that about three in 10 tax returns are not requesting the one-time telephone tax refund. Although some of these taxpayers may not be eligible, others may qualify and not know it. The IRS urges taxpayers to check their eligibility for this special refund by visiting the Telephone Excise Tax Refund section on this Web site.

The government stopped collecting the long-distance excise tax last August after several federal court decisions held that the tax does not apply to long-distance service as it is billed today. Federal officials also authorized a one-time refund of the 3 percent federal excise tax collected on service billed during the previous 41 months, stretching from the beginning of March 2003 to the end of July 2006. The tax continues to apply to local-only phone service.

Of those requesting the telephone tax refund, 99 percent are choosing the standard amount, and the rest are basing their request on the actual amount of tax paid. The standard amount ranges from $30 to $60 and is based on the number of exemptions taxpayers are eligible to claim on their return. Alternatively, taxpayers can request a refund based on the tax shown on their phone bills and other records.

Taxpayers can request the telephone excise tax refund, as well as file their entire tax return electronically, for no cost using the IRS’s Free File program. Seventy percent of Americans are eligible for the Free File program because they earn an adjusted earned income of $52,000 or less. Free File can only be accessed through IRS.gov. On the home page, click on “2007 Free File” and follow the directions.

2007 FILING SEASON STATISTICS

Cumulative through the weeks ending 3/24/06 and 3/23/07

Individual Income Tax Returns

2006

2007

% Change

Total Receipts

73,438,000

74,150,000

1.0%

Total Processed

69,196,000

70,529,000

1.9%

E-filing Receipts:

TOTAL

50,296,000

53,145,000

5.7%

Tax Professionals

36,268,000

37,942,000

4.6%

Self-prepared

14,028,000

15,203,000

8.4%

Web Usage:

Visits to IRS.gov

89,246,000

97,102,000

8.8%

Total Refunds:

Number

61,660,000

62,951,000

2.1%

Amount

$144.513

Billion

$152.801

Billion

5.7%

Average refund

$2,344

$2,427

3.6%

Direct Deposit Refunds:

Number

42,252,000

44,779,000

6.0%

Amount

$113.414

Billion

$124.101

Billion

9.4%

Average refund

$2,684

$2,771

3.2%

Tags: ar mag Smart Cities & Technology

Most Recent


  • cybersecurity
    How state and local CIOs can prioritize security, cloud and legacy systems
    NASCIO recently released the annual State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities for 2023—and cybersecurity and risk management, legacy modernization and cloud services rank near the top. With rising cybersecurity concerns, a growing emphasis on upgrading legacy systems, and a desire for more flexible, cloud-based technology, CIOs are focused on solutions that efficiently and […]
  • cloud services
    Cloud services: A cloudy forecast for state and local governments
    Cloud services continues to grow exponentially making it flourish into a multi-billion-dollar industry. According to a survey by Synergy Research Group, the global cloud infrastructure services market grew by 35 percent in 2020, with the top five cloud providers (Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Google, Alibaba and IBM) capturing more than 70 percent of the market […]
  • cyber threats
    Four ways to protect resident data in the era of digital-first government
    Bad actors and cyber extortionists are continually staging attacks on public sector properties, making enterprise-grade security essential for every local government website. From small villages to counties with millions of residents, hackers increasingly target public sector websites with cyber threats like malware, ransomware, trojans and viruses. Even a relatively minor breach or infection can lead […]
  • wildfire
    Report: Technology can aid wildfire response that's 'stuck in the last century'
    With each passing season, the growing threat of wildfire and its impact on life safety, property, and the economy is underscored by dramatic fire events that ecologically alter entire regions, uproot communities and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. Last year, 68,988 wildfires burned 7.6 million acres of American land. And as of the end of […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • What “smart city” means for 2021: How digital twins, AI and other innovations drive smart transformation
  • 10 reasons why local governments should outsource all IT: Post pandemic view
  • MS-ISAC members get free access to Deloitte’s Cyber Detect and Respond Portal to help respond to cyber threats
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions

White papers


Digital Government Service Delivery – A Guide for Buyers

23rd February 2023

Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022
view all

Webinars


Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023

6th February 2023

How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: America’s top 10 bicycle-friendly cities

20th March 2023

Gallery: Top 10 hardest working American cities

8th March 2023

Gallery: Top 10 least expensive American metro areas

24th February 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Report: Renters living at or below the poverty line face a ‘severe shortage of housing’ dlvr.it/SlR6rb

24th March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Technology is encouraging unprecedented collaboration in local government organizations dlvr.it/SlNYqx

23rd March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Metal buildings can be a lifesaver for local governments needing to expand dlvr.it/SlMCV1

23rd March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Transportation department to invest $94M into projects promoting innovation, safety dlvr.it/SlKRf7

22nd March 2023
AmerCityCounty

How state and local CIOs can prioritize security, cloud and legacy systems dlvr.it/SlK7H1

22nd March 2023
AmerCityCounty

Addressing the housing crises requires creativity, collaboration dlvr.it/SlGTFz

21st March 2023
AmerCityCounty

St. Louis Communities Boost Great Energy Savings dlvr.it/SlFyV0

21st March 2023
AmerCityCounty

How Can Public Sector Best Tackle Their Unique Storage Needs? dlvr.it/SlFxXk

21st March 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.