How do you think government should spend our tax dollars? This question was asked of the nation's third- through fifth-graders in a contest sponsored by Intuit's TurboTax®, America's best-selling tax preparation software. Third grader Eric Burkett's submission was named top pick for the TurboTax "Kids Speak Out About Taxes" contest. His entry, along with ten semi-finalists, were compiled in a document delivered to Congress and President Clinton.
Burkett's Winning Entry
The "Kids Speak Out About Taxes" contest asked third- through fifth-grade students to submit an entry of 25 words or less in response to the question: "How do you think the U.S. government should spend our tax dollars?" Eric Burkett, of St. Petersburg, FL, responded:
"Develop a system that pays kids for doing different types of community service. Turn the account over to them at the time they get married."
For his grand-prize winning entry, Burkett received a $1,500 contribution to an Education IRA established in his name by Intuit. In addition, 10 semi-finalists were awarded a $50 United States Savings Bond, and all of the winning entries were featured in a letter sent to members of Congress.
"This contest showed that taxes can be fun, while at the same time, taught an important lesson in civics," said Bob Meighan, vice president of Intuit's Personal Tax Products Division. "Some of the ideas were surprisingly original."
More than 500 entries were received. Visit www.turbotax.com/contests/rules.html for a complete list of winning entries.
