FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Rick Clayburgh, Tax Commissioner   701-328-2770
March 13, 2001	Jill Weigel, Supervisor, Individual Income Tax Division, 701-328-3277

Electronic Tax Returns Equal Fast Returns

BISMARCK ---Tax Commissioner Rick Clayburgh announced today that more North Dakotans are filing their income tax returns early and electronically.   Almost 121,000 taxpayers have filed income tax returns with about 26% or about 31,800 filed electronically.

“Most of the early and electronic filing is attributed to an increase in taxpayers receiving refunds,” said Commissioner Clayburgh.

As the deadline for filing federal and state personal income tax returns approaches, taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically for both refund and tax due returns.

“When people are expecting money back, they want it back fast,” said Clayburgh.   “E-filing and direct deposit features make filing and receiving a refund faster and easier than ever before.”

Clayburgh said, “Electronic returns are more efficient to process and guarantee a faster return on refunds – generally within seven days.”   This year’s deadline for filing personal income tax returns is April 16, 2001.  Clayburgh indicated that taxpayers filing a paper return can expect to wait up to six weeks before they are able to receive that check.

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.