FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Rick Clayburgh, Tax Commissioner   701-328-2770
March 5, 2001	Jill Weigel, Supervisor, Individual Income Tax Division, 701-328-3277

Internet E-Filing Busts 2000 Record - Already!

BISMARCK --- It took just a little more than six weeks for the North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner to receive as many Internet-filed income tax returns as during all of the 2000 filing season, Commissioner Clayburgh said today.

“North Dakota’s taxpayers are discovering how easy it is to file their tax return electronically,” said Clayburgh, “and they’re pleased with how quickly they get their refund.”

Six weeks after e-filing services opened for business in mid-January, the tax department logged its 28,604 e-filed income tax return, 15 more than received all of last year.

“E-filing is the newest state electronic filing option,” said Clayburgh.  “Tax preparers by far submit the largest share of electronic returns.”

Tax preparers have transmitted 89 percent of the electronic returns so far and 11 percent are filed by individuals over the Internet.  Individuals have transmitted their returns using either an on-line tax preparation service, such as Complete Tax, PrepTax, or Turbo Tax, or by purchasing Turbo Tax’s off-the-shelf software.

In overall electronic filing, 28,604 non-paper returns had been received as of today.  In total, the department expects to receive over 330,000 returns, and hopes 60,000 of those will be filed electronically.  

“The deadline for filing taxes this year is Monday, April 16,” said Clayburgh.  “Taxpayers who owe money can e-file now and pay by April 16.”

Taxpayers can find out more about e-filing by asking their tax preparer, calling the Office of State Tax Commissioner at 1-800-638-2901 or 701-328-3450, or visiting the tax department’s web site at www.nd.gov/tax for a list of on-line tax preparation companies that transmit North Dakota’s tax form.  Taxpayers can also locate an e-file provider through the IRS website at www.irs.ustreas.gov/elec_svs.