The move to online tax filing in the U.S. continues apace, according to a new survey from The Conference Board and TNS:
About 40 percent of online households are planning to file their federal taxes online this year, up from less than 34 percent four years ago, according to The Consumer Internet Barometer, a quarterly report produced by The Conference Board, the global business research and membership organization, and TNS, a global market insight and information group. The report surveys 10,000 households across the country and tracks who's doing what on the Internet.
The report notes that the security of online tax filing is less of a concern for consumers than it was a few years ago:
Those who are extremely concerned with the security of filing taxes online have dropped from about 50 percent in 2005 to only 36 percent today. Conversely, those who claim they are not very concerned or not concerned at all have increased to nearly 40 percent from 27 percent five years ago.
Really? With a steady stream of data breaches and a rising tide of identity theft over the past few years, people are less concerned about sending their most personal of personal information over the Internet?
I certainly understand the appeal of online filing -- it's quick and convenient and much greener than printing out paper. But I just don't think the security risks are worth it.
I'm sticking with paper filing for the foreseeable future -- what about you? Do you plan to file your taxes online this year? Why or why not?
Related Stories and Blogs:
- What the Web knows about you
- 12 tips for managing your information footprint
- Ian Lamont: Putting too much trust in TurboTax