After a slower start this year due to a delay from the IRS in processing returns, the market share of visits to tax preparation services are increasing as compared to last year. Last week, visits were up 17% as compared to the same week last year and there was a small year-over-year increase of 4% for the week ending February 12, 2011.

Each year we see a similar trend among the demographics of the early filers, which tend to be lower income households hoping to receive an early refund (while those with higher incomes that might be more likely to owe taxes waiting until closer to the deadlines). For the past 4 weeks ending February 19, 2011, nearly 59% of the visitors to the custom category of tax preparation websites earned $60k or less and each income bracket below $60k over-indexed for visitation as compared to the online population overall.

The VantageScores also highlight that these early visitors are also less creditworthy with 59% falling into the D or F ranges, again suggesting to be more hopeful for a quick refund.