As Tax Day Nears, Amazon.com Offers Last-Minute Solutions for Procrastinators; Amazon.com Announces Customers' Favorite Tax-Season Products.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 3, 2001

There is plenty of time to help consumers meet the April 16 tax deadline by using the Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) Tax Center (www.amazon.com/tax), which features last-minute tax-preparation solutions, including downloadable software for everyone from first-time filers to small business owners.

Customers can now download popular tax-preparation software in a matter of minutes instead of a matter of days. The Tax Center offers a number of leading downloadable tax and personal finance software titles to assist the last-minute tax filer.

An "E-Tax" Season:

-- Roughly one-third of all taxpayers filed federal returns electronically last
year.

-- Electronically filed tax returns have increased 35 percent over last year,
according to the IRS.

-- When combined with direct deposit, an electronically filed return can
produce a refund within two to three weeks rather than the six to eight weeks
required with a paper return.

-- This year the IRS is encouraging taxpayers to file their returns online.

-- Congress wants all businesses to file electronic tax returns by 2006.

Current Top-Selling Tax-Preparation Software:

-- Quicken TurboTax -- currently one of the most frequently

downloaded software titles at Amazon.com

-- Kiplinger TaxCut Basic Filing Edition (Tax Year 2000)

-- Quicken TurboTax State 45 Multi-State

-- Quicken TurboTax Deluxe for PC and Mac

Current Top-Selling Tax Guide Books:

-- H&R Block 2001 Income Tax Guide (Nancy Anderson, Editor;

George Corney, Editor; Joe Dimatteo, Editor)

-- The Ernst & Young Tax Guide 2001 (Peter W. Bernstein, Editor)

-- 422 Tax Deductions for Businesses and Self-Employed

Individuals (Bernard B. Kamoroff)

Helpful Tax Center Features:

-- Buying Guide: Amazon.com's comprehensive buying guide assists

customers in choosing the appropriate tax and financial

software programs for them, how to file taxes electronically,

how to be better prepared for next year, plus other helpful

hints.

-- Calendar: This online schedule helps tax filers keep track of

important tax deadlines for both personal finances and

business.

The Amazon.com Tax Center, located within its Software store, features a vast array of tax-preparation products, including downloadable and packaged tax software, personal finance software, tax guide books and other products designed to help Americans file their taxes conveniently, accurately and on time. With expert editorial recommendations, customer reviews and lists of bestselling tax preparation products, the Amazon.com Tax Center is the one-stop online shopping destination for consumers' tax-filing needs.

For more information, visit the Amazon.com Tax Center at www.amazon.com/tax.

To speak with an Amazon.com Software editor, or for more information about Amazon.com's Tax Center or Software store, contact: Justin Osmer, Amazon.com, 206/266-7180.

NOTE: Amazon.com's Top Seller lists are updated hourly, based on sales during the previous 24 hours. These real-time sales lists are a convenient way for customers to see which tax-preparation products are currently the most popular with Amazon.com's millions of customers.