For most people, April 15th was Tax Day. How many of us typically prepare and e-file our own tax returns?

Answer: ~47%

47% of people who filed electronically prepared their own returns this year.

Questions:

• What do you think are the pros/cons of preparing your own tax return? 
• Do you plan to file your own tax returns in the future? Why or why not?
  • If you have already filed your own tax returns, what was your process? 
• What are resources that you can use to answer questions you have about filing tax returns?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (IRS): 

Most people e-filed their tax returns so far in 2026 - approximately 98% of all returns were filed electronically. Of those returns, 47% were self-prepared and 53% were prepared by a professional.

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About the Author

Kathryn Dawson

Kathryn (she/her) is excited to join the NGPF team after 9 years of experience in education as a mentor, tutor, and special education teacher. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in policy analysis and management and has a master's degree in education from Brooklyn College. Kathryn is looking forward to bringing her passion for accessibility and educational justice into curriculum design at NGPF. During her free time, Kathryn loves embarking on cooking projects, walking around her Seattle neighborhood with her dog, or lounging in a hammock with a book.