EFTPS Small Business Focus Group

KRC RESEARCH AUGUST 2007

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE

EFTPS FOCUS GROUP

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Name: _________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________________

Recruiter: _________________________________________________________

DATE TBD: New York (Two Groups)

DATE TBD: Chicago (Two Groups)

DATE TBD: Los Angeles (Two Groups)

Hello. My name is __________ and I’m calling from KRC Research on behalf of the Financial Management Service (FMS), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are an independent research firm working with FMS. This is NOT a sales call. We are conducting a research discussion group in your area with small business owners on how federal tax liability is paid to help us better understand how the tax payment system works for you.

Again, this call is for research purposes only. FMS is not interested in your name or in any specific details about you as an individual or your business.

This research discussion group will be held on (DATE) at (EXACT TIME) and last approximately two hours. The discussion will include about eight or nine other small business owners such as yourself. As a token of our appreciation for your time, you will receive $250 for participating in the discussion group. Would you be available at that time? (IF NO, THANK THEM AND TERMINATE THE CALL.)

The following questions are to make sure we are speaking to a range of small businesses owners. Your specific answers will not be shared with anyone.

IF TERMINATE DURING SCREENING PROCESS READ: I’m sorry, we already have enough participants in that category. Thank you very much for your time.

INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF RESPONDENT EXPRESSES CONCERN AT ANY POINT DURING THE INTERVIEW, REASSURE THEM THAT YOU DO NOT WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT. YOU ARE WORKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH COMPANY. THEIR ANSWERS AND PARTICIPATION WILL BE COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE.

IF RESPONDENT WANTS A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL TO VERIFY THIS IS A LEGITIMATE SURVEY: MELANIE RIGNEY, FMS, AT 202-874-6763.

1 RECORD GENDER:

	Male	□
	Female	□

2 Do you or does anyone in your immediate family work for any of the following?
(READ LIST.)

		YES	NO
	In advertising or public relations?
	In marketing or opinion research?
	In journalism or for the news media?
	For the federal government?
	As a tax preparer, CPA, or in an accounting firm?
	TERMINATE IF YES TO ANY OF ABOVE.

3 Thinking about your company’s total federal tax liability, or how much you paid in taxes in 2006, within which of the ranges would your company’s federal tax liability fall? (READ RESPONSES.)

	None	□	TERMINATE
	$20,000 or less	□
	Over $20,000	□

4 Including yourself, how many employees does your company have? (READ RESPONSES.)

	1 to 4	□
	5 to 10	□
	More than 10	□	TERMINATE

5 Which of the following best describes your company? (READ RESPONSES.)

	Sole proprietorship	□
	Partnership	□
	Limited Liability Corporation	□
	“S” Corporation	□
	“C” Corporation	□
	Publicly held corporation	□
	Franchise	□

6 How does your company currently pay its federal taxes? (READ RESPONSES.)

	By using a paper voucher and bringing a check to a bank teller	□
	By using a paper coupon and sending a check via mail
	Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)	□	TERMINATE
	Electronic Funds Withdrawal	□	TERMINATE
	Credit Card	□	TERMINATE

7 Which of the following best describes your involvement in the decision on how your company’s federal business taxes are paid? (READ RESPONSES.)

	I am the primary decision maker	□
	I make the decision equally with someone else	□
	I have a great deal of influence on the decision	□
	I have some influence over the decision	□	TERMINATE
	I am not involved in the decision	□	TERMINATE
	Don’t know/refused (VOL)	□	TERMINATE

RECRUITMENT NOTE: THE PARTICIPANT DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY. BUT THEY MUST HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN DETERMINING HOW FEDERAL TAXES ARE PAID. IF THE PERSON BEING SCREENED DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA IN Q7, YOU MAY ASK TO SPEAK TO THE PERSON WHO IS THE PRIMARY DECISION MAKER AND RESCREEN THAT PERSON.

8 May I confirm your title?

	CEO/President	□
	Owner	□
	CFO	□
	Financial Manager	□
	Other (RECORD)	□

9 Which of the following best describes your company’s technology capabilities?

	You have both computer and Internet access	□
	You have a computer or computers but not Internet access	□
	You have neither Internet access nor a computer/computers	□

10 And how long have you had a business with employees?

RECORD: ____________________

To make sure we are talking to a variety of people:

11 Please stop me when I reach the category that includes your age. [READ LIST.]

	Under 18		TERMINATE
	18-24	
	25-34	
	35-44	
	45-54	
	55-64	
	65 or over	

12 Could you please tell me your main ethnic background or race?

	White, Caucasian	
	Black, African-American	
	Hispanic, Latino/a	
	Asian	
	Other	

13 When was the last time, if ever, that you participated in a focus group study? (READ LIST.)

	Within the past 6 months	TERMINATE
	More than 6 months ago	CONTINUE
	Never

14 Sometimes participants are also asked to view or read materials and write out their answers on a questionnaire. Is there any reason why you could not participate?

	Yes	ٱ	TERMINATE
	No	ٱ	CONTINUE

NOTE: Terminate if respondent offers any reason such as sight or hearing problem, a written or verbal language problem, or a concern with not being able to communicate effectively.

INVITATION:

We would like to invite you to participate in a marketing research discussion group. The group will take 2 hours of your time and you will receive a cash gift of $250. The discussion group will be held on ____________________ at _______ p.m. It will be held at ___________________________________________________________.

Will you be available on _________________ from _______ to _______ p.m.?

	Yes	ٱ	CONTINUE
	No	ٱ	TERMINATE

IF YES: CONFIRM DATE AND TIME, PROVIDE DIRECTIONS, REMIND ATTENDEE TO BRING EYEGLASSES OR HEARING AIDS IF NECESSARY. IF NO, THANK AND TERMINATE.

KRC RESEARCH page 5

August 2007