The most recent tax filing statistics from the IRS tell largely the same story as we’ve heard for most of the tax filing season: filing and processing continue to lag behind last year, even as refund dollars move higher. The data, covering activity through April 3, 2026, offers a near-final snapshot of how this year’s tax season is shaping up as the April 15 deadline approaches.

Filing Activity Continues to Lag

So far, the IRS has received 99,802,000 individual income tax returns, compared to 101,422,000 at the same point in 2025. That represents a 1.6% decline, and notably, that gap has persisted throughout the filing season rather than narrowing as the deadline draws closer. In most years, the difference between current and prior-year filings begins to tighten by early April. With the deadline approaching, a last-minute uptick could still happen.

Processing numbers tell a similar story. The IRS reports that it has processed 99,034,000 returns, down 1.3% from last year. That indicates that the agency is largely keeping pace with incoming returns, but the overall volume remains lower.

E-Filing Holds........

© Forbes