The IRS announced yesterday (IR-2006-67) that the recently completed 2006 filing season set a series of records, highlighted by 70 million tax returns being filed electronically this year and home computer usage jumping 18%. Through April 21, 2006, the IRS had received:

• 70 million returns through IRS e-file — up 6% from the same time last year.
• Almost 20 million taxpayers filed from a home computer — up 18% from the same time last year and almost 3 million more than for all of 2005. The IRS will continue to receive returns filed from home computers until October 16.
• 50 million returns from tax professionals, up 9% from the same period last year.

By April 21, the IRS had issued 85 million refunds averaging $2,237 per refund. More than 60% — 53 million — were issued through direct deposit, representing a 7% increase from last year. Direct deposit gets refunds to the taxpayer a week sooner than issuing a check.

Usage of IRS.gov, this filing season climbed more than 7%. So far this year, there have been 122 million visits to IRS.gov, up from 113 million for the same period last year.