News Release
April 2, 2002 - Columbus, Ohio
- Ohio Business Gateway Opens - Online Tax Filing System
Promises Speed and Convenience
OHIO BUSINESS GATEWAY OPENS
Online Tax Filing System Promises Speed and
Convenience
COLUMBUS (April 2, 2002) — Governor Bob Taft accepted a
national award today in recognition of Ohio’s online services
including the newest, Ohio Business Gateway, a multi-agency
pilot project permitting businesses to report and pay state
taxes on the Web.
Jim Weynand, Vice-President of Government and Education
Markets for Compaq Computer Corporation, presented the
governor with a plaque recognizing Ohio’s top ten ranking
among states in the 2001 Digital State Survey. The survey,
which ranked Ohio overall 9th in the nation, up
from 12th the previous year, is a nationwide study
sponsored by Compaq and conducted by the California based
Center for Digital Government and the Progress and Freedom
Foundation.
"Two years ago, I set forth the goal of moving our state
customers from ‘in-line’ to ‘on-line’ to save citizens time
and money when doing business with the state," said Taft. "We
are proud to receive recognition for our online state
services. We have worked hard to provide Ohioans convenient
and easy e-business alternatives."
Ohioans currently enjoy multiple e-business alternatives.
They can:
- Renew their motor vehicle registration;
- Check worker’s compensation claims and make premium
payments;
- Make reservations at any of Ohio’s state park lodging
sites; and,
- File and pay state taxes.
More than 350,000 Ohioans have renewed their motor vehicle
registrations online and one-half of Ohioans have filed and
paid their taxes over the Internet or on the telephone. Ohio
also offers licensed insurance agents online continuing
education and allows real estate agents to obtain their
license through e-testing and to renew their licenses online.
In addition, the newly established Ohio Business Gateway is a
single-facing web-based application that allows small
businesses to access online forms to enter information for
Worker’s Compensation, Payroll Withholding Tax, Sales Tax and
Unemployment Tax and then make online electronic payment to
cover all their tax liabilities.
Like the Dolphin Project before it, the Business Gateway
allows hard-working small business owners an easier to use
and more convenient way of dealing with state government.
Ohio Business Gateway is accessible through a link on the
state web portal at (www.businessgateway.ohio.gov).
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Contact: Gary Gudmundson, Ohio Department of Taxation at
614-644-6903; or Ben Piscitelli, Ohio Department of
Administrative Services at 614-752-9521.