“This is a significant milestone in the Service’s modernization efforts that will pay dividends for years to come," commented Deborah Nolan, Commissioner of the IRS Large and Mid-Size Business Division (LMSB).

According to the IRS, the largest corporate taxpayers transmitted their returns largely without delay or backlog. The IRS processed this volume of very complex returns, and accepted and acknowledged receipt, well within its 24-hour turn-around standard.

"E-file will cut many months off the audit process and will allow us to develop sophisticated analytical tools to better select areas of audit inquiry," observed IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

"Taxpayers will benefit by having uncertainties on their tax returns resolved sooner, and the government will benefit by more promptly identifying and responding to areas of noncompliance," he added.

The IRS said that corporations in financial services, pharmaceuticals, automobile manufacturing, energy and communications all used e-file with success. Nearly all of these taxpayers used commercial software to prepare their returns. About 400 taxpayers transmitted the return themselves.

Looking ahead, the electronic filing requirements will be expanded to include the tax year 2006 returns of corporations with $10 million or more in total assets that file 250 or more returns a year. Corporations not required to e-file are encouraged to do so voluntarily. E-file has been available to corporations since 2004.