WARREN, N.J. (April 08, 2011) – Lightspeed Research today released results of a survey of American taxpayers asking whether they expect to receive a 2010 tax refund and, if so, how they plan to spend it. Of those expecting a tax refund this year (64 percent), 43 percent say they will use the money to pay off debt. For those planning to pay off debt, credit cards top the list – two out of three say they’ll be putting money toward a credit card balance.
The survey of 1,000 Lightspeed Research panelists also revealed that in addition to paying off debt, more Americans plan to put money into savings (35 percent) than make a purchase (23 percent).
Finally, the survey shows that do-it-yourself tax preparers outnumber those relying on accountants/CPAs or national tax preparers such as H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. Two out of three tax returns are likely to be prepared by someone inside the home, with more than 38 percent of those done using offline or online tax preparation software.
Twenty-two percent of those surveyed say they’ll use an accountant or CPA to prepare their 2010 taxes and only eight percent (seven percent for H&R Block/one percent for Jackson Hewitt) plan to have taxes prepared by one of the national tax preparation franchises.
For press inquiries please contact:
Naor Chazan, Marketing Director, Americas — Lightspeed Research
nchazan@lightspeedresearch.com Tel: +1 (908) 605-4480
Note to Editors
This survey was conducted March 10 to March 14, 2011 and is based on 1,000 respondents who are members of Lightspeed Research’s U.S. Online Panel.
About Lightspeed Research
Lightspeed Research (www.lightspeedresearch.com) is the market researcher’s choice for digitally accessing and deriving insight from consumer opinions and behaviors whenever, wherever and in whatever segments needed. The industry’s most thorough panelist pre-screening process and large global pool delivers business-ready results quickly and cost-effectively. From proprietary online access panels to specialty panels, custom panels and innovative mobile surveys, Lightspeed Research offers the industry’s highest-quality and most complete combination of qualitative and quantitative online research. This is backed by an expert client operations team that provides a range of data collection services, from sample management and survey design to programming and reporting. Part of Kantar, a division of WPP, Lightspeed Research serves clients and cultivates online panelists across the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.
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