E-file Running 7 Percent Ahead of Last Year

The Internal Revenue Service announced that as of April 1, some 52 million returns had been filed electronically, 7 percent above last year's e-filing pace. Overall, 65 percent of all returns were e-filed -- up from 60 percent for the same period last year. The service also reported that roughly 4 million returns have been filed via the Free File program -- up 44 percent from the year-ago figures. "As we get deeper into the tax filing season, the percent difference between how many people are using e-file and how many used it last year keeps going up," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. "This shapes up as a really strong year. Taxpayers who haven't filed yet should check into e-file and Free File." The IRS also said that 42 million refunds have been paid through direct deposit, up 5.7 percent for the same time last year.