ELECTRONIC REFUND

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Mail Boxes Etc., 209 S. Broadview here, is offering electronic tax return service here.

The trend to file tax returns electronically and compresses the refund time to two weeks or less is a rapidly growing phenomena.

Those wanting their returns faster can file for a refund anticipation loan and obtain their returns in a matter of days.

Bill Lange, vice president and general manager of MBE Service Corp., a new subsidiary of Mail Boxes Etc., says more than 4.1 million taxpayers utilized IRS-accepted locations, like Main Box Etc., to file electronic returns in 1990. That is more than eight times the 500,000 who filed electronic returns in 1988.

Lang added that IRS qualifications for electronic filing include:

Filing of forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ, including all W-2, W-2P and W-2G forms.

Returns must show a "refund due" greater than $300 but not more than $3,000.

Taxpayers must be 18 years of age.

Taxpayers must bring current IRS mailing label or copy of 1989 federal income tax return to Mail Boxes Etc. center.

Taxpayers must provide two forms of identification, one of which is a photo I.D.

Taxpayers must complete and sign loan applications to authorize the U.S. Treasury to send tax refund directly to the lending institution.