Statistics released by TaxTalent.com (http://www.taxtalent.com/) indicate a significant gender imbalance throughout the tax profession.

An analysis of TaxSearch Inc's database of over 60,000 tax professionals - the largest of its kind anywhere - indicates that, within the profession:

•        Men outnumber women 2:1 (67% vs 33%);
•         In law firms, this ratio rises to 3:1 (76% vs 24%);
•          Proportions remain constant across both public and private sectors;
•          At senior level (Director, Partner), men outnumber women 4:1.

By contrast, figures from the 2000 US Census (http://www.census.gov/population/pop-profile/2000/chap20.pdf) show that:

•          Women outnumber men in the general population by some 6 million;
•          In the occupational category "Executive, administrators, and managerial" men and women are equally represented (15.3% vs 14.1%);
•          In the category "Professional specialty", men are only slightly over-represented (17.9% vs 13.2%);
  
  "I'm not a statistician, but these numbers tell me that, for whatever reason, women aren't entering the Tax Profession, and when they do, they don't make it to the top," said TaxTalent.com (http://www.taxtalent.com) Director John O'Neill.

"We're clearly at variance with trends within the overall working population," he said.

"We'd like to find out why women don't choose Tax as a career option, and what the barriers to advancement are. That's what our Diversity Forum is for," he added.

As well as its Diversity Forum, TaxTalent.com also sponsors a Diversity Mentor Program where minority students and tax specialists can locate minority tax professionals who are willing to be mentors.

"We'd like to encourage women Tax Professionals to participate in the Forum. That way, we can start addressing the core diversity challenges within the profession," said O'Neill.

TaxTalent's Gender Imbalance Study can be seen is at:

http://www.taxtalent.com/gender/

TaxTalent.com, based in South Carolina, was launched on February 9, 2001.

The portal has attracted over 11,000 Tax Professionals as registered Members since its launch. Its Resume Database is the largest of its kind; its unique Salary Comparison tool contains over 17,400 Tax Professionals - again, the largest of its kind.

TaxTalent.com is listed as a Top 500 Site in CAREERXROADS 2003 Edition - The World's Leading Reference Guide to Job and Resume Websites.

             TaxTalent.com:  http://www.taxtalent.com/

Contact:           John O'Neill

Director, Business and Content Development

TaxTalent.com, Inc.

2205 Middle Street, Suite 207

Sullivan's Island, SC 29482-9764  USA

                                    Voice:   843-883-0100

                                    Fax:      843-883-5200

Email:   john@taxtalent.com