Company Offers Six Easy Steps to Help Customers Stay Organized and SecureFRAMINGHAM, Mass., Feb 25, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- While electronic filing tax returns can save time and money, it is
still important to keep a hard copy of tax documents. To make it easy,
on April 15, Staples Copy & Print Centers (NASDAQ: SPLS) nationwide
will provide free copies, up to 20 pages, of 2007 tax returns.
"We have all become so comfortable storing and sending data
electronically, that many people are not keeping hard copies of
important documents," said John Burke, Senior Vice President of
Business Services at Staples. "Nothing is easier to access and more
reliable than a paper copy of your taxes, which is why Staples is
offering free copies of tax returns."
In addition, Staples is offering six easy steps that will help
clear the clutter and provide simple security measures, to make April
15, as well as the rest of the year, much less taxing.
Step # 1 - SHRED IT
A shredder is one of the easiest ways to protect against identity
theft. It is a vital investment to safeguard any home or business,
especially during the tax season. With the right machine, tax filers
can turn confidential papers into unreadable scraps. The Staples(R)
MailMate(TM) M3 Junk Mail Shredder, Staples(R) 10-Sheet Microcut
Shredder or the Staples(R) 15-Sheet Microcut Shredder shred small or
large amounts of confidential tax information.
Step # 2 - PROTECT IT
There are at least 10,000 known computer viruses and more security
threats being developed every day. Investing in Internet security
software is the best defense against the expanding list of online
threats such as hackers, viruses, spyware and Internet phishing scams.
Staples experts say that when filing taxes electronically, it is
essential that security software be installed on the computer. Staples
recommends Norton 360(TM) or Norton Internet Security(TM) Software to
help protect computers, assets and identities.
Step # 3 - FILE IT
According to the Internal Revenue Service, nearly 80 million tax
returns were e-filed in 2007. Americans can do their own taxes with
step-by-step instructions on e-filing from several software programs
available for personal, at-home assistance. The TurboTax Deluxe Plus
State offers guidance through federal and state returns with extra
help for deductions, as well as double-checking returns for errors.
H&R Block TaxCut Premium offers Schedule C features, advice on
donations, rentals, dividends, capital gains and more. TaxCut Premium
also comes with audit support.
Step # 4 - STORE IT
U.S. businesses lose more than $12 billion annually due to data
loss. In the event of a computer crash, valuable tax documents could
be lost. Staples experts recommend that taxpayers invest in an
external storage device to protect vital digital tax information.
External hard drives, portable drives or USB flash drives to store tax
data (depending on the size of the files) are recommended by Staples
experts. Suggested models include the Maxtor(R) 500GB OneTouch(TM) 4
Plus, the Maxtor(R) 120GB OneTouch(TM) 4 Mini Hard Drive or the
SanDisk(R) 2GB Cruzer(R) Professional USB Flash Drive.
Step # 5 - PLAY IT SAFE
From locking-file cabinets to surge protectors to battery backup,
keep computer systems and confidential information well protected.
Invest in security envelopes such as #10 Self-Sealing Security-Tint
Envelopes to keep tax materials confidential. Staples experts also
recommend safes/filing boxes such as Sentry(R)Safe Fire-Safe(R) Data
Storage Security File to protect tax papers from fire or theft.
Step # 6 - KEEP IT TOGETHER
Keeping organized is especially important during the tax season
when confidential papers are essential for tax filing. Adding office
decor that makes the workspace more pleasant will make customers more
likely to keep organized. M by Staples file folders and expandable
files keep organization intact with a variety of tools in rich,
classic, timeless designs and patterns with hounds tooth, striped and
plaid patterns.
For Staples store hours and locations, visit 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 74,000
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 2006 sales of $18.2 billion,
Staples serves consumers and businesses ranging from home-based
businesses to Fortune 500 companies in 22 countries throughout North
and South America, Europe and Asia. Headquartered outside of Boston,
Staples operates more than 2,000 office superstores and also serves
its customers through mail order catalog, e-commerce and contract
businesses. More information is available at www.staples.com.
SOURCE: Staples, Inc.
For Staples, Inc.
Jackie Guzman, 561-998-1995
jguzman@tilsonpr.com
or
Staples, Inc.
Katie Sullivan, 508-253-0879
katie.sullivan@staples.com
