Consumers More Comfortable Filing Taxes Online, Compared to Other Financial.

Transactions Professional Service Still Preferred Over Do-it-Yourself SoftwareAs tax season approaches, an increasing number of people plan to file their federal taxes online, according to the Consumer Internet Barometer.

Forty percent plan to file online, up from 34 percent three years ago. More than two-thirds of consumers report having filed online for three years or more, up from less than 55 percent in 2005. "Given the many online tax filing alternatives and payment options, such as IRS E-file, Free File and direct deposit options, it's not surprising that every year an increasing number of consumers are filing electronically," says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center. "And, once they file online, they tend to stay online."

The Consumer Internet Barometer - produced by The Conference Board, the global business research and membership organization, and TNS, a global market insight and information group - surveys 10,000 households across the country and tracks who's doing what on the Internet.

More consumers are comfortable filing their taxes online, compared to other financial transactions. The survey finds that while half are "extremely concerned" when banking or paying bills online, only 44 percent express similar concerns when filing taxes online.

Although the gender gap has closed over the years, the survey finds that women still express greater concern than men about banking, paying bills, brokering trades and filing taxes online.

Professional Service Still Preferred Over Do-It-Yourself Software

The percentage of Internet users who are filing their federal taxes offline has steadily decreased over the past several years as more consumers opt for the convenience, speed, ease-of-use and increasing options available to online filers. The most popular reasons for not filing online are that the consumer does not do his or her own taxes, and concerns about transmitting personal information over the Internet.

"Online identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in industrialized nations," says David Stark, Vice President and North America Privacy Officer of TNS. "Several consumers have either been victims of cyber-crime or know people who have. Even though online tax filing is secure, the reluctance of some consumers to try it is understandable."

Among consumers intending to file their federal taxes online, over 40 percent intend to use a professional service, with women more likely than men to seek assistance. The second most popular method, preferred by one-third of online filers, is do-it-yourself tax software. Male filers are more likely than female filers to use tax software. Only about one-fifth of online filers intend to use IRS E-file.

About 72 percent of online federal tax filers chose to receive their 2006 tax refund last year by direct deposit, while less than 15 percent requested a check.

About This Survey:The Consumer Internet Barometer is based on a quarterly survey of 10,000 households. A unique sample is surveyed each quarter. Return rates average 70 percent, which ensures highly representative data. Data is weighted as well to reflect the latest U.S. household demographic information. The latest survey was conducted during the first quarter of 2008. For more information, please email [e-mail] or [e-mail].

About The Conference Board:Non-partisan and not-for-profit, The Conference Board is one of the world's leading business membership and research organizations. The Conference Board produces The Consumer Confidence Index and the Leading Economic Indicators for the U.S. and other major nations. These barometers can have a major impact on the financial markets. The Conference Board also produces a wide range of authoritative reports on corporate governance and ethics, human resources and diversity, executive compensation and corporate citizenship. Our conference and council programs bring together more than 10,000 senior executives each year to share insights and learn from each other. Visit The Conference Board website at www.conference-board.org.

About TNS:

TNS is a global market insight and information group.

Our strategic goal is to be recognized as the global leader in delivering value-added information and insights that help our clients to make more effective decisions.

As industry thought leaders, our people deliver innovative thinking and excellent service to global organizations and local clients worldwide. We work in partnership with our clients, meeting their needs for high-quality information, analysis and foresight across our network of over 70 countries.

We are the world's foremost provider of custom research and analysis, combining in-depth industry sector understanding with world-class expertise in the areas of new product development, segmentation and positioning research, brand and advertising research and stakeholder management. We are a major supplier of consumer panel, media intelligence and internet, TV and radio audience measurement services.

TNS is the sixth sense of business.www.tns-global.com

Zimbabwe: Europe renew restrictive measures against Zimbabwe for a further year Brussels, 20 February 2008 (ITUC Online): The International Trade Union Confederation and the European Trade Union Confederation welcomed the adoption by the EU Council of a common position to renew restrictive measures against Zimbabwe for a further year, until 20 February 2009.

The restrictive measures, first introduced in February 2002, consist of a ban on entry into the EU and a freeze on financial assets for individuals who engage in activities that seriously undermine democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. An embargo on the supply of arms and equipment intended for military operations is also in force.

The Council also adopted a decision extending for 12 months the suspension of support to Zimbabwe under the European development fund, given that essential provisions of the ACP-EU partnership agreement continue to be violated by the Zimbabwean government.

The ITUC and the ETUC had written earlier this year together to Commissioner Louis Michel to call for the EU's measures against the government of Zimbabwe to be maintained.

"The ITUC welcomes this position as there has been no improvement in the situation regarding trade union and other human rights in the country", said General Secretary Guy Ryder " The international trade union movement has condemned today the brutal Zimbabwean police attack on teacher trade unionists took place on February 19, and has called on Governments in the region and around the world to protest to the Zimbabwean Government.

Nine members of teachers' union PTUZ, including President Raymond Majongwe, were arrested and beaten when they started distributing leaflets about the country's education crisis. 5 of them are seriously injured. They were taken to the police station where further savage beatings were administered leaving five in hospital with broken bones and other injuries. The ETUC exists to speak with a single voice, on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 82 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations Patricia Grillo Head of Press and Communications [phone] [phone] [e-mail] The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates. Website: http://www.ituc-csi.org For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: [phone] or [phone]

[c] 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)