News Release
March 31, 2000 - Columbus, Ohio
- One Million and Counting
Electronic tax returns set new record
Governor Bob Taft today commended Ohio taxpayers for making
Ohio second in the country this year in the number of state
tax returns filed electronically. Only California has more.
Through March 28, more than 1.1 million taxpayers have filed
their returns electronically or by telephone – breaking last
year’s record of just over a million.
Taft encouraged those who haven’t filed yet to consider the
electronic option, "The success of our e-file program shows
me that people will use technology that works for them. It’s
quick; it’s easy; it’s accurate. It really demonstrates that
we’re on track with our efforts to increase the opportunities
to do business on-line with all our state agencies." In his
January State of the State address, Taft outlined a number of
on-line initiatives including the creation of the Governor’s
Council on Electronic Commerce. The Council, chaired by
Ohio’s Chief Information Officer Greg Jackson, is working to
bring all key state services on-line by 2002."What’s
happening with tax filing, will happen with other state
services as they become available, " Taft said. "People want
the convenience that the Internet offers and we’re committed
to making those services available wherever possible."With
the surge of electronic filing, the Department of Taxation
has seen paper returns drop by more than 230,000. Tax
Commissioner Tom Zaino says the Department saves more than
forty cents in processing costs for each electronic return.
This is the second year that Ohio has offered electronic
filing. The deadline for filing taxes this year is Monday,
April 17.
(For more information, contact Gary Gudmundson, Ohio
Department of Taxation at 614/644-6903, or, Scott Milburn,
Press Secretary at 614/644-7474.)