IRS Says Taxpayers File Returns Slower Than Last Year and Fewer Get Refunds : Taxpayers Slower in Filing Returns Than ‘84, IRS Says

Taxpayers are slower in filing their federal income tax returns this year and fewer are getting refunds, the Internal Revenue Service said Thursday.

In its first report on this year’s filings, the IRS said it had received 21.6 million returns through Feb. 15, down 18.4% from the same period a year ago. Of the returns processed so far, 1.15 million, or 32.7%, had qualified for refunds. At this time last year, 40.7% of the returns had claimed refunds.

However, the average refund this year has been about $684, up from $649 last year.

The IRS said 450 taxpayers have responded to the invitation of Commissioner Roscoe L. Egger Jr. and contributed additional money to reduce the federal debt. Those donations totaled $150,221, including one check for $54,006, the IRS said.