I was just curious as to how many people take advantage of the choice to pay more in taxes? I remember seeing a choice on the return that would allow someone to pay more.

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

There is an option to make an additional gift to the federal government, I don't know where it is in Turbotax, though.  Maybe under "other tax situations."

There's no way to know how many people volunteer, the IRS would have to release that information (in anonymous form, of course.)  Turbotax can't release that information even anonymously, due to taxpayer privacy laws.

(In fact, I don't see it in the instructions at all, maybe it's not on the tax forms.  But you can make a voluntary payment to reduce the national debt directly to the US Treasury, the year by year stats are here. https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/gift/gift.htm)

[Opus 17]

It's not on the tax forms.  In the instructions, it says:

Gift To Reduce Debt Held by the Public
You can make a contribution (gift) to reduce debt held by the public. If you wish to do so, make a separate check
payable to “Bureau of the Fiscal Service.”
Send your check to:
Bureau of the Fiscal Service ATTN: Department G
P.O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188
Or, enclose your separate check in the enve- lope with your income tax return. Don't add this gift to any tax you owe.
For information on making this type of gift on- line, go to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov">www.treasurydirect.gov</a> and click on “How To Make a Contribution to Reduce the Debt.”
You may be able to deduct this gift as a charitable contribution on next year's tax return if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040).

The link above has the year by year totals.