The IRS announced today (IR-2006-39) electronically filed returns have increased, led by a big increase in home computer use:

Through early March, more than 39.5 million taxpayers have e-filed this year. Home computer use is up 16.5%, with e-file by tax professionals up nearly 4%. Out of 54 million tax returns filed so far this year, e-file represents 73% percent of the total returns. By comparison, 72% of returns were filed electronically for the comparable period last year.  Other tax filing stats:

• Since January, the IRS web site had 70.4 million visits, up almost 6% from last year. Last week alone, the site had more than 7.2 million visits, up nearly 9% from last year.
• So far this year, 33.9 million individual income tax refunds have been directly deposited into bank accounts. These deposits represent about 76% of all tax refunds, up from 73% for the same period last year.
• So far this year, 629,251 credit card payments have been made by individual taxpayers, up 41% compared to 448,547 for the same period last year. These payments represent $355 million, a 48% increase from $240 million during the same period last year.

	2005	2006	Percent Change
Total Receipts	54,566,000	53,947,000	-1.1
Total Processed	50,153,000	48,957,000	-2.4
E-filing Receipts
TOTAL	39,214,000	39,503,000	0.7
Tax Professionals	27,155,000	28,137,000	3.6
Self-prepared	9,756,000	11,366,000	16.5
Telefile	2,303,000	N/A	—
Web Usage
Unique Visits to IRS.gov	66,468,998	70,435,197	6.0
Total Refunds
Number	44,931,000	44,544,000	– 0.9
Amount of Principle	$106,517 billion	110.465 billion	3.7
Average	$2,371	$2,480	4.6
Direct Deposit Refunds
Number	32,721,000	33,887,000	3.6
Amount of Principle	$86.969 billion	93.440 billion	7.4
Average	$2,658	$2,757	3.7