Tracy, CA (April 8, 2004) - With only ten days until the filing deadline, more than 58 million Americans - nearly half of all taxpayers - have yet to submit their returns to the IRS. "That leaves more than $100 billion in expected refunds sitting idle in the U.S. Treasury, instead of being used to pay bills or buy goods and services," said Leroy E. Petz, Sr., president of Petz Enterprises, Inc., producers of TaxBrain, Online Tax Center, the largest Internet-based tax service in the U.S.

"Every tax season seems the same, as the bulk of the taxpayers wait until the last minute to file and get their refunds" said Mr. Petz. "TaxBrain clients, however, are among the leaders in filing early this year, especially as many taxpayers are anticipating increased refunds due to mid-2003 tax bracket changes."

"As of April 5, 2004, TaxBrain clients have claimed just over $100 million in refunds," Mr. Petz continued. "By using Direct Deposit, they will have their money in less than 10 days. Avoiding the last minute rush not only is logical - it simply makes good financial sense."

Mr. Petz added, "The IRS has said that as of March 26th, self-prepared e-filed returns are up 22.9 percent to 10 million, compared to the same period last year. Since early in January, when the IRS began accepting e-filing, taxpayers have been encouraged to use the Internet to file their returns. Contrary to what many believe, e-filing is more secure than the U.S. mail. Far fewer people see a tax return when it is filed electronically than handle the paper forms. It has been estimated that as many as a dozen people handle a typical paper return, making the potential for identity theft much higher."

In a recent announcement, Mark W. Everson, IRS Commissioner said, "E-Filing is the fastest, easiest way to do taxes. There are fewer errors, and taxpayers get their refunds in less than half the time of paper returns."

Mr. Petz said, "TaxBrain is located in central California, and is 100% American-staffed with certified tax experts. The IRS recently said the most frequent mistake do-it-yourselfers make is failure to subtract last year's advance payment from the credit amount. So far, more than 900,000 people have made this error. But TaxBrain filers have a zero error rate. The taxpayer should be able to finish the process in around 30 minutes, and even have access to a live tax expert via Instant Messaging, a free, exclusive service from TaxBrain."

While a lot of emphasis this year is on the increased amount of refunds, e-filing is also a good option if an extension is needed, or payment must be made. E-filing is significantly more accurate than paper and pencil. If the taxpayer makes a mistake in arithmetic, the e-filing picks it up immediately, all but eliminating audits, fines and penalties. Should taxes be owed, the IRS accepts credit card payments.

About TaxBrain^® Online Tax Center
TaxBrain is a full service online tax center providing tax advice, tools, and resources all year to help taxpayers manage their tax burden with greater confidence and ease. TaxBrain is the only web-based tax solution that delivers online preparation, filing, professional assistance and representation for taxpayers in all 50 states. Launched in 2000, TaxBrain delivers the vision of a fully integrated tax center that accommodates the schedule and needs of the busy American lifestyle. In 2002, TaxBrain emerged as one of the most popular services for online tax preparation and filing available on the web. For more information, visit www.taxbrain.com.

About Petz Enterprises, Inc.
Petz Enterprises, Inc. (a closely held California corporation, PEI) is a leading provider of tax preparation and filing solutions for the professional and consumer markets helping to automate and simplify federal, state and local tax compliance. PEI's CrossLink^® line of professional tax software products enable tax practitioners and service bureaus to accurately prepare and file large volumes of individual tax returns. Founded in 1974, and based in Tracy, California, PEI is dedicated to serving the needs of professional tax practitioners and individual taxpayers nationwide. For more information, visit www.petzent.com.