In 2011, there was a 14% increase in e-filing, according to the IRS Oversight Board’s 2011 Annual Report to Congress on Electronic Filing. Seventy-eight percent of all individual returns were e-filed in 2011. The expectation for the 2012 filing season (for 2011 income tax returns) is 80% e-filing. E-filing also includes the use of the mobile application, IRS2GO, for submitting a 1040EZ with a smartphone.
Because of increased e-filing, the IRS no longer mails out paper returns and instructions to taxpayers in December. Forms and instructions can be found on the IRS website.
Source: IRS Oversight Board 2011 Annual Report to Congress on Electronic Filing
Items, such as interest, state and local income and sales taxes, charitable contributions, and medical deductions, claimed on Schedule A of Form 1040. Itemized deductions are subtracted from adjusted gross income to arrive at taxable income. The amount of itemized deductions is also subject to a reduction when adjusted gross income exceeds certain limits.