EFTPS - Financial Management Service - Department of the Treasury

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The specific objectives of the research were to:• understand the factors that currently facilitateor are barriers to EFTPS usage for individuals,small businesses and tax professionals;• assess specific factors that may be leveraged toenhance EFTPS usage;• provide a foundation for a communicationsframework for EFTPS initiatives; and• assess the role of tax professionals in influencingpeople’s use of EFTPS.Using a unique approach, the research sought toidentify the personal values that relate to EFTPS usageand how those values relate to payment preferencesamong the target audiences. This approach, calledvalues-based research, establishes linkages from therational process of decision-making to the emotionalconsequences associated with those choices. Thevalues and other important elements are first identifiedin the qualitative study and then measured in thequantitative study.EFTPS FACTSEFTPS FACTSTaxpayers who pay by check are about 30 times moreTaxpayers likely to have who tax pay penalties by check assessed are about against 30 times them more thanlikely those to who have use tax electronic penalties forms assessed of payment. against them.EFTPS uses the most advanced security measures availableto protect information.The EFTPS system allows users to schedule paymentsin advance, any time of day, any day of the week, fromany location.EFTPS issues an Acknowledgement Receipt NumberEFTPS confi rming issues that an payment Acknowledgement instructions Receipt have been Number received.confirming In addition, an that EFTPS-OnLine payment instructions user can have access been and received. printIn up addition, to 16 months an EFTPS-OnLine of payment history. user can A taxpayer access and who printup makes to 16 a payment months of via payment phone using history. the A Voice taxpayer Response whomakes System a (VRS) payment will via receive phone an using Acknowledgement the Voice Response ReceiptSystem Number (VRS) and can will also receive check an payment Acknowledgement history.Receipt Number and can also check payment history.2
QUALITATIVE STUDYMETHODOLOGYThe qualitative research phase utilized AdvancedStrategy Labs (ASL), a proprietary research approachfrom Wirthlin Worldwide. The ASL methodology collectedindividual data in a group setting using separatecomputers and group discussion. This approach allowseach participant to respond to questions anonymouslyvia a computer—thereby preserving the integrityand confidentiality of responses—while also allowingfor group interaction and brainstorming. The interviewprocess uses a series of brainstorming questionsand laddering techniques designed to string togetherresponses that help map a respondent’s thought process.The data that result show the linkages between therational and emotional elements of decision-making.Individuals: 40 participants• Pay estimated taxes more frequently than once a year• Mix of occupations (service, manufacturing, wholesale/retailtrade, other)• Mix of demographics, including race and ethnicity• Target individuals over age of 40• File as individuals, jointly with spouse or as a soleproprietor, S corporation or partnershipA total of six ASL sessions were conducted in twocities—Houston and New York. Most sessions had 20participants and lasted approximately three hours.PARTICIPANT CRITERIATax professionals: 40 participants• Owner of small tax firm or a senior tax accountant/account executive in a medium-sized firm• Mix of firm sizes (excluding the six largestaccounting/tax preparation firms)• Client base of individuals and small businessesSmall businesses: 56 participants• Annual tax liability of $2,500 to $200,000• Decision-maker on how taxes are paid for the business• Mix of industries (service, manufacturing, wholesale/retailtrade, other)• Mix of companies, by size of their revenue andnumber of employees• Mix included minority- and woman-ownedbusinessesKEY FINDINGSLack of awareness and familiarity with EFTPSis a significant barrier. Most individual and smallbusiness respondents were either unaware of EFTPSor were confused about the service and its functionality.Their concerns resulted from a lack of knowledge3
Page 1 and 2: EFTPSElectronic Federal Tax Payment
Page 3: INTRODUCTIONBACKGROUNDThe Electroni
Page 7 and 8: QUANTITATIVE STUDYMETHODOLOGYThe qu
Page 9 and 10: The Role of Tax Professionals in Ma
Page 11: SUMMARY ANDCONCLUSIONSClearly, EFTP

EFTPS - Financial Management Service - Department of the Treasury

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