Mass. electronic filing doubles in nine years

BOSTON – The Mass. Department of Revenue said that the amount of people that electronically file their personal income tax returns has doubled since 2001.
In 2001 the department reported an e-file rate of 29.38 percent, or 929,951 returns. This year saw an e-file rate of 71.31 percent – about 2.418 million returns.
The department said that the state rates are in line with national figures. The Internal Revenue Service reported an e-file rate of 30.73 percent (40.244 million returns) in 2001 and an e-file rate of 69.76 percent (98.74 million returns) in 2010.
The department’s own WebFile for Income program has expanded, going from 95,135 users in 2009 to 110,312 this year.
The department credited convenience and the public’s “increasing comfort” with using technology for the rise.
“The paper tax form is headed for obsolescence,” the department said. &#8226