And, of course, keep meal receipts. If they don't want to keep track of the actual cost of meals, they can use a standard meal allowance, which varies depending on where they are traveling in the United States. Taxpayers can generally claim only 50 percent of the cost of meals and tips while traveling. Payments by phone take less than five minutes. If a taxpayer wishes to use a personal computer, free, Windows-based software is available.
Taxpayers can also choose to work through their financial institutions.
No government agency or outside party has unauthorized access to a taxpayer's account or company information. Approximately 4,000 businesses are enrolling each week. Two Treasury Department financial agents, the First National Bank of Chicago and NationsBank, manage the system. Taxpayers do not have to open accounts at these banks to participate. They can authorize their own bank or the Treasury financial agent to initiate payments for them.