Taxpayers use their refunds to buy gift cards

TurboTax is giving taxpayers up to $1,200 more on their tax refunds—via gift cards.

Intuit, Inc. lets TurboTax users choose among gift cards from 50-plus retailers, including Starbucks, Blockbuster, The Gap and Lowe's, as well as American Express Incentive Service's AmEx Shopping Card, accepted by 38 retailers.

The TurboTax Refund Bonus program lets taxpayers who are filing their returns electronically designate a certain amount of their refund to purchase a gift card, and the retailer adds another 10% to 100% to the value of the card. For example, a taxpayer diverts $90 of his refund to a Starbucks gift card; Starbucks adds $10, sending the taxpayer a $100 gift card, with no expiration date. Taxpayers are charged $14.95 for shipping and handling (including two-day FedEx delivery); gift cards arrive two to four weeks after the IRS has accepted the tax return.

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The Subway Cash Card lets consumers make purchases at participating restaurants without the need to carry cash or credit cards. The cards are available in denominations ranging between $5 and $100. Cards can be reloaded when the balance diminishes.

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In its first global promotion, Burger King is rolling out 20 SpongeBob figurines around the SpongeBob Lost in Time episode. Burger King customers in more than 40 countries can follow the cartoon character on his worldwide adventure, and track his journeys online at BK.com/spongebob.

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Members of the hotel chain's free loyalty program, Gold Crown Club International, will be automatically entered into the "Best Western International/MasterCard FIFA World Cup Sweepstakes" with each worldwide stay through April 30 when they use their MasterCard cards as their method of payment.

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The patent is titled "Electronic coupon distribution," and is commonly referred to as the "Engel Patent." Purchased last month, it covers any online distribution system that allows consumers to search or view product coupons and print them from their computers.

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Gift cards replaced apparel as the holiday gift of choice, growing into a $35.3 billion industry, according to The U.S. Prepaid and Gift Card Market, a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, a provider of industry-specific market research reports.

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The Speedway Collector's Series is customized to 21 tracks hosting races during the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.

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That's the upshot of a survey conducted by Nokia to help mobile phone operators cut customer churn. Nokia found five essentials that impacted consumers' initial choice of service provider: calling plans, operator brand image, handset features, network quality and cost.

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In his new role, he will advise the practice and be involved in business development activities by consulting with clients and prospects within the technology, telecom and other industries, both nationally and internationally. He will be based in Princeton, NJ.

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ASI Chicago
July 11-13, 2006
Chicago
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