Federation of Tax AdministratorsAnnual Technology Conference

August 17, 1999

Agenda

• Project Overview• Successes • Challenges • Lessons Learned• Expansion Plans• Keys to Future Success

• Intuit donating Web-based tax preparation and e-file services to lower income taxpayers.– Eligibility: annual AGI of $20,000 or less

• Over 50 million taxpayers eligible– 43% of taxpaying population.

• No charge to taxpayer or government

Quicken Tax Freedom Project

• Following Intuit services donated to eligible taxpayers via WebTurboTax:– Electronic preparation federal and state returns– Simple to complex returns

• 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ • Supporting forms and schedules

– Electronic filing for federal returns and 30 states• Taxpayer may also print return

Quicken Tax Freedom Project

• Intuit Operating Value: We Care and Give Back• Help revenue agencies meet e-file goals

– IRS Congressional goal of 80% e-file by 2007– Similar states goals

• Public Sector relies on Private Sector core competencies– Ensure continued technical innovation and

advancement of preparation and filing services, – Reducing taxpayer costs and burdens

Intuit Program Goals

• Awareness of the program • Public education that e-file is

endorsed by government– E-file simplicity and benefits– WebTurboTax authorized e-file

provider

• Ready public availability of Internet access

Major Challenges to Success

Lessons Learned

• QTFP volume strong as % of total Internet tax preparation volume

• But can be significantly higher• Promotion and public education key

to participation• Continued aggressive growth in

public Internet access is key enabler

• Over 86,000 federal returns prepared – Over 70,000 federal returns e-filed

• Over 57,000 state returns prepared– Over 35,000 state returns e-filed

• Media coverage received in 1,604 outlets– AP Photo, broadcast news, print, and radio– 95% positive coverage, remainder neutral– Over 33 million impressions nationwide

First Year Successes

• Lower income filers with AGI $20,000 or less – Federal and 45 individual income tax states – Utilizing WebTurboTax services

• Plus EZ filers!!– Federal and 39 e-file states– New streamlined Web based service

• Fast, simple, easy, and quick

– Over 55 million taxpayers eligible

Expansion Plans for 1999

• Public Awareness & Education Campaigns• Recommend Public-Private Partnership

– Revenue agencies promoting any and all no-charge preparation and e-file services

– Targeted agency public service and paid advertising• Web site• Tax booklet• Welfare checks• Public service messaging on bus stops

Keys to Future Success

• Focus of messages– Benefits of electronically preparing and

e-filing a return – Emphasizing no-charge services

available – Reference all providers of such

electronic tax preparation and e-filing services

Keys to Future Success

• Executive level commitment within agencies to promote these services

• Philanthropic character of QTFP and similar Private Sector programs can help Public-Private Partnership– Public Sector objectives met at no cost to

government or taxpayer

• Continued efforts to increase public access to the Internet

Keys to Future Success