WASHINGTON — Nearly 99 million individuals filed their federal income tax returns electronically during 2010, a 3 percent increase in the IRS e-file rate. Of the 141.5 million returns filed so far this year, almost 70 percent were filed electronically.

Each year, more taxpayers chose to e-file their tax returns. Last year, nearly 95 million taxpayers or 67 percent used e-file. In the past decade, the number of individual tax returns e-filed has increased by 145 percent. The overall number of individual tax returns increased only by 8 percent. IRS e-file is no longer is the exception; now it is the norm.

Home Computer e-Filers

Taxpayers who prepare their own tax returns using home computers continued to set the pace for e-file. This year, more than 35 percent of e-filers prepared and filed their returns themselves.

Almost 35 million returns were e-filed from home computers, up 8 percent from last year.

Direct Deposit Refunds

More than 74 million refunds were electronically deposited into taxpayers’ accounts, saving taxpayers a trip to the bank. More importantly, these taxpayers received their refunds at least a week faster than those receiving paper checks.

These direct deposit refunds accounted for almost 69 percent of all refunds, up from 66 percent of refunds last year. Overall, the IRS issued 109 million refunds, averaging $2,994 per refund; direct deposit refunds averaged $3,189 per refund.