IRS Has Received Half of Expected Returns

WASHINGTON -The Internal Revenue Service, which continues to receive and process 1989 federal income tax returns ahead of last year's place, has now received half of the 111 million returns it expects this year.

As of March 23, the IRS received 54.9 million returns, compared to 53.1 million received at the same point last year. With about three weeks to go until this year's April 16 tax filing deadline, the IRS said the filing season is going well.

Returns are arriving at IRS service centers 3.3 percent ahead of last year's pace, and the IRS is processing returns over 8 percent ahead of last year. As of March 23, the IRS processed almost 46 million returns. The IRS also has sent out more refunds this year than last year at this point in the filing season.

As of March 22, the IRS authorized over 35 million refunds, and the average refund -- $846 -- is almost 4 percent higher than last year.

The IRS said that again this year automated refund information is available toll-free so taxpayers can check on the status of their refund.

If it has been eight weeks since filing a return for refund, taxpayers can call the special Tele-Tax number listed in the tax package. Callers should have a copy of their tax return available since they will need to know the first social security number shown on the return, the filing status and the exact amount of the expected refund so the IRS can check on its status.

             1990 Filing Season Statistics
     Individual income tax returns received and processed
    For the week ending March 24, 1989, and March 23, 1990:


                    1989         1990      % Change

Receipts          4,799,000    4,819,000      0.4
Processed         6,070,000    6,031,000      0.6

Cumulative from January 1:

                    1989         1990      % Change

Receipts         53,138,000   54,880,000      3.3
Processed        42,433,000   45,945,000      8.3


Electronically filed individual income tax returns

  For the week ending March 22, 1990:     163,590
  Cumulative for 1990 since Jan. 1:     3,644,647
  Cumulative for 1989 for same period:    981,107
  1990 increase over 1989:                  271.5 %


Refund comparison

Refunds certified by Martinsburg Computing Center 
through March 23, 1989, and March 22, 1990:

                      1989          1990      % Change

Number               31,443,000    35,215,000   12.0
Amount of principal $25,647 mil.  $29,809 mil.  16.2
Average refund          $816             $846    3.7



Taxpayer Service filing season statistics

                       1/1/89 - 3/25/89  1/1/90 - 3/24/90
Toll-free phone calls
     answered              13,067,892        11,853,466
Tele-Tax calls (technical)  1,829,594         2,633,738
Refund info.               12,890,098         8,079,843

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