Business World

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 15, 1998

Fewer find it taxing

DULLES, Va. (Bloomberg) -- The number of America Online members visiting its tax planning forum jumped 75 percent this year, compared with last year, as Internet users become more comfortable with tapping the Web for tax advice. What's more, the number of people who visited that site almost doubled in the last week as today's tax filing deadline approached, although the company declined to specify the number of people who visited the site. The No. 1 online service provides 24-hour help on its tax forum from certified public accountants, who answer questions from subscribers. The jump shows that mainstream consumers are less concerned with Internet security issues, analysts said, and that Internet services are able to command higher advertising rates for seasonal sites because they're so popular.