The document summarizes key findings from an Experian Consumer Tax Survey conducted in January 2016 with 1,000 US adults who file tax returns. Some of the main findings include: - Most consumers now prepare and file their taxes electronically and store tax documents digitally. - Awareness and concern about tax-related identity theft has increased significantly in recent years. - While awareness of new IRS protections is growing, many consumers remain unfamiliar with the IRS-issued identity protection PIN and victims' ability to request copies of fraudulent returns. - The survey found interest among consumers in using an IRS-issued PIN to protect against tax-related identity theft when filing taxes.

1. 1
EDELMAN BERLAND
Experian Consumer
Tax Survey Report
January 2016

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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 1-5,
2016
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 2016 Daniel J Edelman Inc. Intelligent Engagement
• Tax filing, document storage and refunds continue to be increasingly electronic.
• 79% report filing their most recent tax return online, up from 73% in 2011.
• 18% scan and save their tax documents electronically, up from 6% in 2011.
• More than three quarters of respondents have used EFT for tax refunds.
• Consumer familiarity with tax-related identity theft has risen significantly in recent
years and tax-filers are increasingly concerned about being affected.
• 76% are familiar with tax-related identity theft, up from 57% in 2014.
• 42% are concerned that someone could access their personal data through their tax return, up
from 35% in 2014.
• Awareness of the IRS-issued PIN continues to grow over time, but most are still
unfamiliar with the newer protections available to victims of tax-related identity theft.
• Less than half of tax-filers are aware of the IRS-issued PIN (47%) or victims’ ability to request
copies of fraudulent tax returns (30%).
• Still, there is consumer interest in using an IRS-issued PIN to protect their identity during tax
season.
Key Findings

4. Tax Filing & Refunds

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Most prepare their own taxes on their home network
56%
23%
10% 9% 1%
49%
23%
16%
11% 2%
56%
19% 17%
6%
1%
56%
18%
17%
7% 2%
Myself Accountant Tax specialization
service
Family Friend
Tax Return Preparation
2011 2014 2015 2016
39% Online-based tax preparation program
13% Tax preparation computer software
4% Without tax preparation software
76%
14%
7%
3%
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=556]

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Tax filing has become increasingly electronic over the past
several years
48%
25%
20%
5%
2%
44%
35%
11%
5% 5%
46%
35%
10%
5% 4%
50%
29%
13% 3% 5%
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
2016
37%
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 who file their own taxes by mail, n=126]
TOTAL ELECTRONIC
2011: 73%
2014: 79%
2015: 81%
2016: 79%
 2011-16
+6

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43%
48%
6%
3%
38%
43%
12%
6%
1%
40% 39%
14% 5%
2%
35%
38%
18% 7%
2%
Store in a
secure, locked
place
Store in an
unsecure place
Scan and store
electronically
Shred Throw out
without
shredding
Tax Document Storage
2011 2014 2015 2016
Q9: What do you do with physical copies of your old tax documents?
Q11: Have you ever used Electronic Funds Transfer to receive a tax refund?
Americans are also increasingly utilizing electronic document
storage and EFT as part of the digital trend
22% 18% 16%
73% 78% 77%
2014 2015 2016
Tax Refunds: Electronic
Funds Transfer Usage
Yes No Unsure
-10 +12 2011-16:
+4 2014-16:

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Q21: 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.
Q22: How do you plan to use your tax refund this year? [Asked of those who expect to receive a refund, n=797]
20%
15%
21%
26%
11%
7%
Expected 2015 Tax Refund
None
$1-$500
$501-$1,000
$1,001-$2,000
$2,001-$3,000
More than
$3,000
This year, most consumers expect to receive a tax refund and plan
to use it toward their personal savings or paying down credit card
debt
41%
35%
19%
18%
11%
11%
11%
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)
80% EXPECT A 2015 TAX REFUND
(83% EXPECTED A 2014 TAX REFUND)

9. Tax-Related Identity Theft

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Consumers are increasingly aware of tax-related identity theft
and have growing concerns about being personally affected
Q13: Prior to this survey, were you familiar with the concept of tax-related identity theft?
Q10: To what extent are you concerned that your tax preparer/service is susceptible to losing your information? [Asked among those whose taxes are
prepared by someone else, 2014 n=510, 2015 n=435, 2016 n=439]
Q12: Prior to this survey, to what extent were you concerned that someone could access your personal data, such as your Social Security number or
banking information, through your tax return?
22% 16% 11%
19%
19%
11%
57% 63% 76%
2014 2015 2016
Yes, familiar
Heard the term
No, not familiar
Unsure
Familiarity with
Tax-Related
Identity Theft
 2014-16:
+19
FAMILIAR
64%
53% 51%
21%
26% 25%
15% 21% 24%
2014 2015 2016
Concerned
Neutral
Not concerned
37% 34% 32%
28% 28% 26%
35% 38% 42%
2014 2015 2016
Concerned
Neutral
Not concerned
Concern about
Tax Preparers Losing
Personal Data
(Shown off % use tax
preparer)
Concern about
Personal Data
Breach Through
Tax Return
 2014-16:
+7
CONCERNED
 2014-16:
+9
CONCERNED

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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.
Q14: Have you or anyone you know ever been a victim of tax-related identity theft?
Q15: 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=126]
Q16: And, approximately how long did it take for you to receive your tax refund after you were informed that your identity had been stolen?
[Asked of tax-related identity theft victims, n=126]
55%
are concerned about
becoming a victim of tax-
related identity theft
13%
have been a victim of tax-
related identity theft
15%
know a victim of tax-
related identity theft
59%
58%
38%
36%
30%
30%
Filed a police report
Put fraud alert on credit reports
Filed a complaint with FTC
Ordered a credit report
Reported to IRS
Received IRS-issued PIN
Victims of tax-related identity theft most commonly file a police
report and put a fraud alert on their credit reports
AVERAGE
TIME TO
RECEIVE TAX
REFUND
AFTER
INFORMED OF
IDENTITY
THEFT:
6.75
MONTHS
Tax-Related Identity Theft
Victims’ Actions Taken
(Shown off % victim of tax-related identity
theft)

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There is limited awareness of new protections for victims of tax-
related identity theft, even among those who have been personally
affected
7% 5% 8%
54% 50% 45%
39% 45% 47%
2014 2015 2016
Yes
No
Unsure
Awareness of
IRS-Issued PIN
Q17: Prior to this survey, were you aware of the IRS-issued PIN?
Q18. The IRS now allows victims of tax-related identity theft to obtain copies of the fraudulent tax returns that were filed by thieves using the victims’
stolen identification. Prior to this survey, were you aware that victims of tax-related identity theft could request copies of fraudulent tax returns from
the IRS?
 2014-16:
+8
AWARE
30%
61%
9%
Yes
No
Unsure
Awareness of Ability to Request
Copies of Fraudulent Tax
Returns
60%
Tax-Related
Identity Theft
Victims
52%
Tax-Related
Identity Theft
Victims

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Q20: What is the one thing that you will do to try to prevent identity theft during tax season this year? [Asked of those familiar with tax-
related identity theft, n=757]
17%
12%
12%
8%
8%
7%
7%
6%
6%
6%
Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
Check my credit report
File my taxes as soon as possible
File my taxes on a protected internet connection / network
File my taxes using a personal computer
File my taxes using certified mail
Password protect my electronic tax documents
File my taxes on a computer with up-to-date antivirus…
Enroll in credit monitoring / identity theft protection
Keep my physical tax documents in a locked, secure location
Protections against Tax-Related Identity Theft
(Shown off % familiar with tax-related identity theft)
However, consumers do have an appetite for using an IRS-
issued PIN to protect their identities during tax season