As tax time for Americans approaches, learn how the increasing popularity of electronic filing means that the security of your data is in your hands now more than ever. How are others planning to use the funds they anticipate as a return? And what's the most popular way for home filers to submit their information? For answers to these questions (and many more), review our summary of tax time learnings to keep your own practices sharp in 2015 and beyond.

1. 1
EDELMAN BERLAND
Experian PMID
Tax Survey Report
January 2015

2. 2 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
WHO HOW MANY ACCURACY WHEN HOW
Adults
Nationwide
(Ages 18+)
Who File Tax
Returns
n=1,000
Margin of Error =
± 3.1%
Data Collection
Occurred
January 2-7,
2015
Online Survey
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE:
To garner media-genic research around consumers’ understanding of tax-related identity theft and
identity protection during tax time
Research Methodology

3. 3 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Most prepare their own taxes on their home network
56%
23%
10% 9% 1%
49%
23%
16%
11% 2%
56%
19% 17% 6%
1%
Myself Accountant Tax specialization
service
Family Friend
Tax Return Preparation
2011 2014 2015
37% Online-based tax preparation program
14% Tax preparation computer software
6% Without tax preparation software
85%
7%
4%4%
Self-Preparation Network
(Shown off % prepare their own
taxes)
Inside of my home on a secure
network
At work on a secure network
Q5: Who prepared your last tax return?
Q6: Which of the following best describes how you prepare your documents prior to submitting your return? [Asked among respondents
who prepare their tax returns themselves, n=563]

4. 4 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Tax filing has become increasingly electronic over the past four
years
48%
25%
20%
5%
2%
44%
35%
11%
5% 5%
46%
35%
10%
5% 4%
File myself, electronically Tax specialist,
electronically
File myself, by mail Tax specialist, by mail Tax specialist, don't know
filing method
Tax Return Filing Method
2011
2014
2015
61%
of those who mail
their taxes do not
send their returns
by certified mail
Q7: How do you file your taxes?
Q8: Do you send your tax returns by certified mail? [Asked among respondents file their own taxes by mail, n=98]
TOTAL ELECTRONIC
2011: 73%
2014: 79%
2015: 81%
 2011-15
+8

5. 5 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
89%
7%
3%
91%
6%
2%
1%
Personal computer or tablet
Work computer or tablet that
only I use
Work computer or tablet that
others use
Public computer
2014 2015
Q9: What type of computer do you use when filing your taxes online? [Asked among respondents who file their own taxes electronically,
2014 n=440, 2015 n=464]
Q10: To the best of your knowledge, does the device you used to file your taxes have current antivirus protection? [Asked among
respondents who file their own taxes electronically, n=464]
Nearly all respondents that file their taxes online report using a
personal device with up-to-date anti-virus protection
91%
3% 6%
Yes
No
Unsure
Computer Used to File
Taxes
(Shown off % file electronically)
Virus Protection
(Shown off % file electronically)

6. 6 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
43%
48%
6% 3%
38%
43%
12%
6%
1%
40% 39%
14% 5% 2%
Store in secure,
locked place
Store in an
unsecure place
Scan and store
electronically
Shred Throw out
without shredding
Tax Document Store
2011 2014 2015
Q11: What do you do with physical copies of your old tax documents?
Q13: Have you ever used Electronic Funds Transfer to receive a tax refund?
Electronic document storage and EFT also see a boost as part of the
online trend
22% 18%
73% 78%
2014 2015
Tax Refunds: Electronic
Funds Transfer Usage
Yes No Unsure
-9 +8
 2011-15:
+5
 2014-15:

7. 7 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Q20: How much of a tax refund, if any, do you expect to receive this year? Please include both your federal and state taxes in your estimation.
Q21: How do you plan to use your tax refund this year? [Asked of those that expect to receive a refund, n=826]
17%
16%
21%
23%
11%
12%
Expected 2014 Tax Refund
None
$1-$500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$2,000
$2,001-$3,000
More than
$3,000
Most plan to use their tax refunds to build personal savings or pay
down credit card debt
46%
34%
18%
17%
13%
10%
7%
Savings fund/investments
Pay off/down credit card debt
Pay off/down personal loan
Personal shopping spree
Pay off/down student loans
Automobile purchase
Home down payment
Anticipated Tax Refund Usage
(Shown off % expect a tax refund)
83% expect a tax refund

8. 8 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
This year tax-filers are slightly more concerned about the
security of their personal financial information and the
possibility of a data breach
64%
53%
21%
26%
15% 21%
2014 2015
37% 34%
28% 28%
35% 38%
2014 2015
Concerned
Neutral
Not concerned
Concern about
Tax Preparers Losing
Personal Data
(Shown off % use tax
preparer)
Concern about
Personal Data
Breach Through
Tax Return
Q12: To what extent are you concerned that your tax preparer/service is susceptible to losing your information? [Asked among
individuals whose taxes are prepared by someone else, 2014 n=510, 2015 n=435]
Q14: Prior to this survey, to what extent are you concerned that someone could access your personal data, such as your Social Security
number or banking information, through your tax return?
 2014-15:
+6
CONCERNED
 2014-15:
+3
CONCERNED

9. 9 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Consumers are growing more familiar with tax-related identity
theft and the IRS-issued PIN
22% 16%
19%
19%
57% 63%
2014 2015
Yes, familiar
Heard the term
No, not familiar
Unsure 7% 5%
54% 50%
39% 45%
2014 2015
Yes
No
Unsure
Familiarity with Tax-
Related Identity
Theft
Familiarity with
IRS-Issued PIN
Q15: Prior to this survey, were you familiar with the concept of tax-related, identity theft?
Q18: Prior to this survey, were you aware of the IRS-issued PIN?
 2014-15:
+6
FAMILIAR
 2014-15:
+6
FAMILIAR

10. 10 © Copyright 2014 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
Q19: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: I am concerned about becoming a victim of tax-related
identity theft.
Q16: Have you or anyone you know ever been a victim of tax-related, identity theft?
Q17: You mentioned that you were a victim of tax-related identity theft. Which of the following actions did you take after this incident?
[Asked of tax-related identity theft victims, n=54]
55%
are concerned about becoming a
victim of tax-related identity theft
5%
have been a victim of tax-related
identity fraud
15%
know a victim of tax-related
identity fraud
54%
50%
50%
43%
41%
33%
Reported to IRS
Filed a complaint with FTC
Ordered a credit report
Put fraud alert on credit reports
Received IRS-issued PIN
Filed a police report
More than half are concerned about tax-related identity fraud,
and many know others who have been personally affected
Tax-Related Identity Theft
Victims’ Actions Taken
(Shown off % victim of tax-related identity
theft)