REVENUE ADDS CREDIT-CARD PAYMENT OPTION FOR BILL PAYMENTS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Revenue now accepts credit cards for bill payments in addition to payment of the professional privilege tax. Professional privilege was the first tax type that customers could pay via credit card to the Department of Revenue through its Web site, www.Tennessee.gov/revenue. The department accepts the following credit cards: MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. There is an associated 2.49 percent processing fee. The department is working to add this convenient payment option to other online tax filing applications.

"The Department of Revenue is committed to offering convenient, time-saving services to taxpayers to encourage voluntary compliance with our state's tax laws," said Revenue Commissioner Loren L. Chumley. "Credit-card payment options are one of Revenue's many online services."

Electronic filing of the sales and use tax, consumer use tax, individual income tax, professional privilege tax, and franchise and excise tax minimum and estimated payment returns and extensions is available via the department's Web site, www.Tennessee.gov/revenue. Bill payments and many business tax registration activities also can be completed online.

The Department of Revenue provides computer access to customers who don't have such technology, so they can file their taxes online at its offices in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Jackson, Johnson City, Memphis and Nashville.

The department offers an electronic commerce hot line to assist taxpayers and tax practitioners who use the department's ever-expanding suite of electronic tax filing options. The statewide toll-free phone number is (866) 368-6374. Nashville-area and out-of-state callers should dial (615) 253-0704.

All taxpayer data, whether paper or electronic, filed with the Department of Revenue is confidential data protected under Tennessee law.

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the department collected $10.3 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.8 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2005-2006 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.Tennessee.gov/revenue.

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