January 08, 2008
Tuesday PM

(SitNews) - The New Year started with a bang for the PFD Division. Alaskans flocked to the internet to apply online for their 2008 PFDs. The first day of the 2008 application period opened January 1, and by mid-day January 7 over one quarter of the expected 2008 PFD applications had been filed. The previous daily record of 25,083 online applications received, set on January 3rd, 2007, was fully eclipsed by the 35,121 online applications received on January 2, 2008.

At 12:01 a.m. on January 1st, 202 applicants were logged onto the PFD website and waiting to file. By 12:35 a.m., over 500 applications had been filed, and by 1:00 a.m. over 813 applications had been filed. As of January 4th, online applications passed the 100,000 mark, and by mid-day on January 7th, over 157,500 online applications had been filed. In 2007 the Division received 420,596 applications online, two thirds of the total 629,000 valid applications received for the 2007 PFD. The Division is hoping for at least 470,000 online filers this year and is expecting 630,000 valid applications.

The number of Alaskans choosing to file completely paperless PFD applications has also increased. Seventy two percent (72%) of the first 150,000 2008 online PFD applications have been electronically signed, an increase of nearly 4% over the first 150,000 online PFD applications of 2007.

This year, Alaskans have the opportunity to retroactively electronically sign (eSign) their PFD applications. Applicants that did not create a myAlaska account before they submitted their 2008 online application can still create a myAlaska account after they have filed online and retroactively attach an electronic signature to their 2008 PFD application. Visit the PFD home page at www.pfd.alaska.gov and view "attach an eSignature to an application" in the Application Help section. Applicants will need a current Alaska driver's license or an Alaska ID and must have received a dividend in 2007. Adults with a myAlaska account may also eSign for any applicant they sponsor. PFD applicants choosing to retroactively eSign will not need to submit a paper signature page.

PFD Division Director Debbie Richter encourages Alaskans to apply online for their PFD during January, "We are very pleased with the numbers of applications filed online and Alaskans' willingness to electronically sign for their dividends. The Division has worked hard to get the word out about the online application and electronic signature options and is committed to moving towards a paperless application process."

Public computers are available in the PFD Information Offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and PFD staff can assist applicants with the online application and electronic signature processes. Applicants may email dor.pfd.info@alaska.gov with questions or may call the Division's toll-free number 1-800-733-8813 for assistance.

Eligible applicants that apply online in January and select and qualify for direct deposit will get paid in the early direct deposit on October 2, 2008. All other eligible applicants who select and qualify for direct deposit will get paid on October 16. The Division will begin mailing checks to all other eligible applicants on November 14. The 2008 application period closes March 31, and the 2008 dividend amount will be announced mid-September, 2008.

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Revenue
www.revenue.state.ak.us

SitNews ©2008
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska