Easy Money: Electronic Tax Filing Grows: Tax Payment By Credit Card Allowed

Transcript

Event Date(s): 02/17/1999 | Event Location(s): Washington, DC; | Description: Freelance writer Bonnie Rosenstock (ph) sits at desk with tax preparer who puts down document and types on computer keyboard. Close up on Rosenstock seen. Close up on keyboard seen. In interview Rosenstock says she gets her refund quickly and can use it for her spring vacation. Graphic background with Internal Revenue Service logo, header "Electronic tax returns" and insert supers "13 million taxpayers have filed", "IRS looking for 31 million returns by April 15", and "1 of every 4 taxpayers" seen. Panning shot pans from eyeglasses to tax form instruction document on desk seen. Overhead shot of Rosenstock and tax preparer working on computer seen. Close up on Rosenstock's fingers fidgeting seen. Computer screen with code numbers for tax form electric filing information categories seen. (IRS) In clip from a public service announcement television commercial astronauts in a space ship file taxes with a laptop computer with earth in space and logo "IRS e-file" seen. Hands swipe a credit card through approval machine. Overhead shot of card being swiped through machine seen. In interview the Internal Revenue Service's Robert Barr says credit card payments are by and large treated just like buying something in a store. Graphic with IRS logo, header "credit cards", and insert video of cashier ringing up a credit card transaction with insert supers "A fee of 1.5 to 2.5 percent" and , "$25 on $1,000 in taxes" seen. Rear shot of woman working on computer in office seen. Close up on fingers hitting calculator keys on keyboard seen. In interview financial adviser Ric Edelman says owing the IRS is cheaper than owing the credit card companies. Close up on credit card on counter, camera pulls back to show woman making a purchase at register. A hand holds a credit card as a clothing item is folded on the counter. In interview Edelman says people who pay with a credit card don't have money so when the get a bill for taxes they will use their credit card making their debt worse. NBC's Lisa Myers reports and closes on camera in studio in Washington, DC.