Record numbers of Americans are filing their tax returns electronically, instead of relying on paper.

The Internal Revenue Service received more than 90.6 million electronically-filed income-tax returns from individuals through April 24. That was up 6% from the same period last year. This increase came even though the total number of returns filed through April 24 declined 6% to 131.5 million.

Yes, there are plenty of reasons to be nervous about electronic filing. Cyberspace is filled with sophisticated hackers and thieves eager to break into top-secret databases and steal your identity.

Even so, most tax experts I've spoken with agree enthusiastically that the benefits of electronic filing clearly outweigh the possible perils.

Officials insist the IRS's e-filing system is safe -- and that taxpayers typically will get their refunds much more quickly that way than by relying on paper. An IRS spokesman says taxpayers can get their refunds in "as little as 10 days" if they sign up for electronic filing and direct deposit.

Just as importantly, e-filing greatly reduces the chances of mistakes, both by taxpayers and by IRS workers. The IRS recently acknowledged this point. An electronically-prepared and filed tax return has an error rate of "less than 1%," the IRS said. That compares to an error rate of "about 20%" for returns done on paper.

If you're among the millions of taxpayers who still haven't filed their returns for 2008, you can still use the IRS's e-file system. The IRS says it will continue accepting income-tax returns through its e-filing system until Oct. 15. That's the filing deadline for people who didn't send in their returns by the April 15 deadline but did file for a six-month IRS extension.

Government officials are eager for more people to file electronically, especially since it costs the agency much less to handle an e-filed return than one filed on paper.

"E-file is a great option for taxpayers, and this year's record is another sign people enjoy the speed and accuracy of e-file," said Doug Shulman, the IRS Commissioner.

"We remind taxpayers with extensions who haven't filed yet that they can still take advantage of e-file."