evidence: The government has released provisional figures of direct tax collections for FY 2017-18. According to the data, in FY 2017-18, 6.84 crore income tax returns (ITRs) were filed with the Income Tax Department as compared to 5.43 crore ITRs filed during FY 2016-17, a growth of 26 per cent. Driving the growth in the number of income tax return filings is the growth in new ITR filers. The government data shows the number of new ITR filers has increased to 99.49 lakh (as on 30.03.2018) during FY 2017-18, as compared to 85.51 lakh new ITR filers added during FY 2016-17, a growth of 16.3 per cent. The government also said that refunds amounting to Rs.1.49 lakh crore have been issued during 2017-18. [...] 8) As compared to 3.79 crore ITRs filed in FY 2013-14, the number of ITRs filed during FY 2017-18 (6.84 crore) has increased by 80.5 per cent. 9) The increase in total returns filed and new returns filed during FY 2017-18 is a result of sustained efforts made by the Income Tax Department in following up with potential non-filers through email, SMS, statutory notices, outreach programmes, etc. as well as through structural changes made in law and the government's emphasis on widening of tax net, the finance ministry statement said.