SOI Tax Stats - Filing Season Statistics

 

Our filing season statistics present data from all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS at three critical points during the year: late May, mid-July, and mid-November.

  • The late-May filing season statistics by adjusted gross income (AGI) summarize the data from all individual income tax returns filed with the IRS by late May. These tables primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, and reported to the IRS by the April 15 filing deadline. These data exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The data represent approximately 90 percent of all returns that will be processed by the IRS in the calendar year. Because taxpayers who request an extension generally have more complex finances, on average, the data reflect 84 percent of the total AGI and 80 percent of the total tax liability that will be reported for all individual income tax returns filed during the year.
  • Statistics from returns processed by mid-July update the data from the late-May filing season statistics. These statistics represent approximately 95 percent of all individual filers, 87 percent of total AGI, and 82 percent of total tax liability.
  • Data in the last set of tables, the mid-November filing season statistics by AGI, reflect nearly all individual income tax returns that will be received and processed in the calendar year, including any returns filed by the April 15 deadline and granted a 6-month extension.

These filing season statistics are presented in two sections.

  • First section: Expanded tables present data for selected sources of income, deductions, credits, and taxes for returns filed for the prior tax year.
  • Second section: Includes distributional data for AGI, income tax after credits, and the share of income from the sale of capital assets for returns filed for the prior tax year and some late-filed returns for earlier tax years.

Filing Season Statistics

The statistics present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed in Calendar Year 2018 for Tax Year 2017. Data are presented for select sources of income, deductions, credits, and individual income taxes. The tables are classified by AGI classifications. Data represent the three critical points in the annual filing season and form a baseline for comparison of year to year trends. 

Late-May Filing Season Statistics by AGI

These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 21 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Data Presented Classified By Tax Years
Table 1.  All Individual Returns: Selected Income Items, Adjustments, Credits, and Taxes, by Size of Adjusted Gross Income (Through Filing Season Cycle 21) Size of Adjusted Gross Income 2018XLS 2019XLS 2020XLS 2021XLS2022XLS 2023XLS

* Due to the new filing deadline for 2021 and delays in return processing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, for 2021 data are presented for returns filed on or before week 26 (end of June) instead of week 21.

Mid-July Filing Season Statistics by AGI

These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 30 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

Data Presented Classified By Tax Years
Table 1.  All Individual Returns: Selected Income Items, Adjustments, Credits, and Taxes, by Size of Adjusted Gross Income (Through Filing Season Cycle 30) Size of Adjusted Gross Income 2018XLS 2019XLS 2020XLS 2021XLS 2022XLS 2023XLS

Mid-November Filing Season Statistics by AGI

These tables present data from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 47 of the calendar year. Returns filed reflect income earned in the year preceding the filing year.

Data Presented Classified By Tax Years
Table 1.  All Individual Returns: Selected Income Items, Adjustments, Credits, and Taxes, by Size of Adjusted Gross Income (Through Filing Season Cycle 47) Size of Adjusted Gross Income 2018XLS 2019XLS 2020XLS* 2022XLS 2023XLS

* Due to delays in return processing caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, for 2020 data are presented for returns filed on or before week 53 (late-December) instead of week 47.


Distributional Data Presented for Adjusted Gross Income, Income Tax After Credits, and Share of Income From Sales of Capital Assets

These data have been developed as part of a research program to provide authoritative data for use by researchers that would avoid the inaccuracies that may occur by using incomplete data. The statistics primarily represent income earned in the prior year, but will include some late-filed returns for earlier tax years.

The final column in each table indicates the share of income from the sale of capital assets represented in the income presented. By comparing the data presented in these tables over time, they can be used to develop early estimates of changes in the economy or to update forecasts of economic activity that were developed using older data.

Late-May Statistics by AGI

These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 21 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

2010XLS     2011XLS     2012XLS     2013XLS     2014XLS     2015XLS     2016XLS     2017XLS     2018XLS     


Mid-July Statistics by AGI

These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 30 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year, but exclude taxpayers who requested a 6-month filing extension by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

2010XLS     2011XLS     2012XLS     2013XLS     2014XLS     2015XLSX     2016XLS     2017XLS     2018XLS


Mid-November Statistics by AGI

These tables present information from the population of all Forms 1040 processed by the IRS on or before week 47 of the calendar year. Returns filed primarily reflect income earned in the year preceding the Filing Year.

2010XLS     2011XLS     2012XLS     2013XLS     2014XLS     2015XLS     2016XLS     2017XLS     2018XLS
 


Additional filing season statistics