No Foolin’: Comptroller Franchot Launches New Humorous YouTube Spot

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 1, 2009) - Today, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that his agency was launching another YouTube advertisement aimed at encouraging Marylanders to file their taxes electronically. As a result of its outreach, the agency has downloaded over 1.1 million electronically filed returns thus far this tax season - an increase of nearly 10 percent above this time last year.

“This is no April Fools’ Joke. We are serious in getting the word out about the benefits of e-filing,” said Comptroller Franchot. “Bringing humor to the otherwise stressful topic of doing taxes is one way we have grabbed people’s attention this tax filing season, and the results speak for themselves. Because of these efforts, the number of refund checks delivered via direct deposit has grown by more than 18 percent from last year, while those sent in the mail have decreased by more than 37 percent.”

The ad, entitled ‘E-filer Knows Best,” is a parody of a 1950s television show. In it, the Comptroller stresses the option that taxpayers have filing electronically, which allows them to hold onto their hard-earned money for two extra weeks should they file by the April 15 deadline and pay through direct debit.

“I encourage all Marylanders to file electronically this year,” said Comptroller Franchot. E-filing is the safest, fastest and easiest way to file your taxes. In addition, people who e-file by April 15th can have an extra two weeks to pay if they select the direct debit option. ”

Thanks to the Comptroller’s increased public outreach over the past two years through YouTube and other mediums, the number of electronic returns has gone up. For tax year 2007, the Comptroller’s office processed more than 1.5 million returns electronically, up almost 200,000 from the 1.3 million received in tax year 2006. To date, for tax year 2008, the office has already downloaded 1,157,534 electronic returns. This compared to 1,065,087 downloaded this same time last year.

Paper returns cost the state $1.98 to process, compared to .38 cents for e-filed returns. Since its inception in the early 1990’s, electronic filing has saved the state roughly $14 million. Check out the new YouTube video: