When the Tax Man Calls…Americans Dial Their Accountant

-- New GfK NOP Study Finds Most Consumers Still Seek Help When Filing Returns --

New York, March 23, 2006 — According to a new survey from GfK OmniTel® nearly half (44%) of Americans will enlist the aid of an accountant this year to file their taxes.

The remainder of individuals will use e-file to submit their own taxes (20%) while 15% will rely on the traditional paper filing method. About one in ten consumers (9%) claim they plan to file “some other way” while a similar proportion (9%) do not plan to file at all.

“Even in a do-it-yourself environment, most Americans continue to rely on the advice of an accountant when filing their taxes,” according to Bruce Barr of GfK OmniTel.  “With so many new deductions and special tax breaks available today, many individuals don’t have the time to keep up with the IRS and would rather seek the expertise of a professional.”

The survey also found that age and income play a large role in selecting filing methods.Younger filers tend toward e-filing while their older counterparts are more likely to use the services of an accountant. In fact, only 27% of individuals between the ages of 18-24 will use an accountant this year but that number nearly doubles (52%) among the 50-64 age group.

Higher income groups are more likely to use an accountant or paper file on their own. Filing “some other way” is more prevalent among lower-income respondents. Interestingly, e-filing remains consistent across both income groups.

The survey was conducted via telephone between February 24-26, 2006 among 526 female adults and 478 male adults.

About GfK OmniTel®…

GfKOmniTel is aweekly telephone omnibus surveyfielded to a national sample of 1,000 representative American adults.  First developed in 1979, the survey offers a cost-efficient way to understand trends and issues relating toAmerican consumers nationwide.To ask any questions on the next wave of GfK OmniTel, call your GfK NOP account representative or contact Bruce Barr, Vice President, Omnibus Services.

About GfK NOP

Headquartered in New York, GfK NOP (formerly known as RoperASW) is a company of GfK Custom Research, North America, part of The GfK Group.  With home offices in uremberg, Germany, The GfK Group is among the top-five market research organizations in the world.  Its activities cover five business divisions: Custom Research, Retail and Technology, Consumer Tracking, Media and Healthcare.   In addition to 13 subsidiaries in Germany, The GfK Group has more than 130 subsidiaries and affiliates in 61 countries.

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