SecureTax offers a private-branded screen when users click in from Citizens Bank. The normal $14.95 fee is discounted $5 for bank customers.

SecureTax is a division of Universal Tax Systems www.taxwise.com one of the major players in the professional tax prep and electronic filing business. Privately held Universal began in 1983 and has been used by more than 12,000 CPAs, accountants and other tax professionals. During the past two years, the company’s software has been used to prepare four million returns. The company claims to have transmitted more online returns than all the others combined.

SecureTax was launched a year ago to process 1996 returns. This year, through strategically placed banner ads (see example on facing page) on search engines and at strategic partners, including some 80 banks and credit unions, the company has seen volume ramp up quickly. During the second and third weeks of January, more than 10,000 returns were prepared online, with volume growing 35% per day. Strategic partners can share in revenues depending on how much traffic they drive.

The company is also running a weekly sweeps through the entire tax season. Each week, one user is selected from all that have registered that week to win $1,040. The company uses the sweeps to draw traffic off banner ads, but also to encourage repeat visitors by sending non-winners an e-mail encouraging them to come back and try again for the next weekly drawing.

SecureTax also appears on Texaco PAW Employees FCU www.tfcu.com .