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Just Keep My Money! Supporting Tax-Time Savings with US Savings Bonds

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Tufano

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a 2007 experiment testing whether specific process simplification can foster increased take-up rates for savings products, particularly by low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. Tax refund recipients at certain H&R Block tax preparation offices were given the option to purchase US Savings Bonds with their tax refunds, augmenting the tax-site savings options offered by H&R Block. Those who received the savings bond offer were substantially more likely to purchase a savings product on-site than those who didn't, even after controlling for client demographics. Much of this take-up was directed at intra-family gifting, or asset building on behalf of children. (JEL D14, H24)

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Tufano, 2011. "Just Keep My Money! Supporting Tax-Time Savings with US Savings Bonds," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 3(4), pages 172-200, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:3:y:2011:i:4:p:172-200
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/pol.3.4.172
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kondratjeva, Olga & Roll, Stephen P. & Bufe, Sam & Grinstein-Weiss, Michal, 2021. "Using financial tips to guide debt repayment: Experimental evidence from low- and moderate-income tax filers," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Clinton Key & Jenna N. Tucker & Michal Grinstein-Weiss & Krista Comer, 2015. "Tax-Time Savings among Low-Income Households in the $aveNYC Program," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(3), pages 489-518, November.
    3. Michal Grinstein-Weiss & Blair D. Russell & William G. Gale & Clinton Key & Dan Ariely, 2017. "Behavioral Interventions to Increase Tax-Time Saving: Evidence from a National Randomized Trial," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 3-26, March.
    4. Blaufus, Kay & Milde, Michael & Schaefer, Marcel, 2022. "Saving at tax time: Do additional retroactive savings opportunities increase retirement savings?," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 272, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    5. Julie Birkenmaier & Brandy Maynard & Youngmi Kim, 2022. "Interventions designed to improve financial capability: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), March.
    6. Roll, Stephen & Grinstein-Weiss, Michal & Gallagher, Emily & Cryder, Cynthia, 2020. "Can pre-commitment increase savings deposits? Evidence from a tax-time field experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 357-380.
    7. Nilton Porto & J. Michael Collins, 2017. "The Role of Refund Expectations in Savings: Evidence from Volunteer Income Tax Preparation Programs in the United States," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 183-199, March.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies

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    1. Just Keep My Money! Supporting Tax-Time Savings with US Savings Bonds (American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 2011) in ReplicationWiki

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