Give Your Wallet The Year Off...Let Staples Pay Your Federal Taxes.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- World's Largest Office Products Company Launches National Sweepstakes and Offers Free Copies of Tax Returns to Make Tax Time Easier

When calculating tax returns, many tax payers are surprised to see the amount of money they've paid over the year in federal taxes. Wouldn't it be nice to have that money back in your pocket? A subsidiary of Staples, Inc., (NASDAQ: SPLS) will make that a reality for one lucky person as it launches the "Let Staples Pay Your Taxes Sweepstakes" in stores nationwide. Beginning today through April 15th, customers can enter the sweepstakes at their local Staples Copy & Print Center for a chance to win up to $25,000 of their 2004 federal income tax liability.

"Our goal is to make tax time easy for our customers," said John Burke, senior vice president of business services at Staples. "So we're offering a chance to have your federal taxes paid and we're making free copies of tax returns at our stores nationwide."

There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. Enter by filling out an entry form found at a local Staples Copy & Print Center. One nationwide winner will be chosen at random for the prize. If the winner drawn does not pay federal taxes, Staples will present them with a $5,000 prize. Official sweepstakes rules are located on the back of each entry form.

Staples is also reminding customers about the importance of keeping a hard copy of tax returns each year by offering free copies of 2004 returns through April 15th.

"In this age of electronic filing and document shredding we want to remind everyone to make a hard copy of their tax return and keep it in a safe place," explained Burke.

Staples Copy & Print Centers are full-service centers that make copying and printing easy for small businesses and guarantee its quality and service. Some of the services offered include digital color copying and printing, self-copiers, laminating, cutting, folding and various types of binding and many more.

For a complete list of store locations, log on to www.staples.com.

About Staples

Staples, Inc. invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today is the world's largest office products company. With 65,000 talented associates, the company is committed to making it easy to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2004 sales of $14.4 billion, Staples serves consumers and businesses ranging from home-based businesses to Fortune 500 companies in 21 countries throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples operates approximately 1,680 office superstores and also serves its customers through mail order catalog, e-commerce and contract businesses. More information is available at www.staples.com.

Editor's Note: Federal Tax Liability is the amount paid to the federal government over the course of the year. The winner will receive a check for the amount of taxes owed to the federal government based on their 2004 salary, up to $25,000. The amounts can be located on Line 10 of the 1040EZ form and Line 56 on the 1040 form.