WASHINGTON, D.C. -

The latest update from the Internal Revenue Service shows the volume of individual tax filings and refunds is off to a roaring start this season.

As of Feb. 11, the IRS said it has received 26,421,000 individual tax returns since the 2022 filing season began on Jan. 24. That’s up 28% from the same juncture a year earlier.

And the IRS indicated it’s also making fast progress in processing those returns, as the latest update showed the agency has gone through 23,438,000 returns, representing a 59.5% lift year-over-year.

The IRS reported that it has issued $20.888 billion in federal refunds to 8,992,000 individuals through Feb. 11. Officials computed the average refund to be $2,323, which is 22.3% higher than at the same point in 2021.

Also of note, the IRS tabulated that its website has gotten 172,827,000 visits during the span when filing season began through Feb. 11. That’s down 53.1% from a year earlier.