Survey shows taxpayers pleased with Department of Revenue e-filing services

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The overwhelming majority of Minnesota taxpayers are satisfied with the amount of time it took to receive their tax refund, according to a Minnesota Department of Revenue report. The report measures results and shows the department is reaching its goal of increasing the speed, accuracy and convenience of tax filing and paying.

Every two years, the department surveys taxpayers to determine their satisfaction with the tax filing and paying process.

Findings of the most recent survey in 2007 indicate 94 percent of taxpayers were satisfied with the amount of time it took to receive their tax refund. The department’s goal is to increase that number to 95 percent by the 2009 survey. 98 percent of those surveyed felt the information they received from the department was useful.

“These results show that the Department of Revenue is reaching out to taxpayers and serving them in the fullest capacity,” said Revenue Commissioner Ward Einess. “Customer service is one of our top priorities and these results show that we are succeeding.”

Another department goal is to increase e-services for taxpayers. As the internet continues to grow as a main source of information, use of the department’s Web site has also grown. In 2007, there were 502,000 visits to the “Where’s My Refund” link; a 34 percent increase from 2006..

In 2003, the department began offering a new online service to make it easier for people with delinquencies to pay their tax debts. Currently, 27 percent of pay plans were created by using this service. The department goal for 2008 is to increase that number to 30 percent.

The Web site also offers e-services for businesses. In 2007, 63 percent of new business registrations were created using the web. The same year, the department launched an e-service that allows employers to submit W-2 forms electronically.

The department passed another milestone recently with more than 2 million Minnesota taxpayers electronically filing their income and property tax returns.

Minnesota is a national leader in converting taxpayers from paper to e-filed returns, and is expected to close the year with the second highest rating of e-filers in the nation.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is currently developing strategies to improve these survey results and customer satisfaction regarding the filing and paying process.

For the complete report on department results, visit www.taxes.state.mn.us.

Tags: taxpayers, department, of, revenue, e, filing