IRS employee wins yearlong mall shopping spree

When Roseann Kiddell learned she won a $20,000 yearlong shopping spree, her first thought was, "What will I buy," and the second was, "How much will I owe?"

Kiddell, who works for the IRS, was awarded a $20,000 gift card Friday at Westfield Hawthorn Shopping Center in Vernon Hills.

The Prospect Heights woman was the grand prizewinner of about 300,000 people nationwide who entered the "Get Connected" six-month sweepstakes sponsored by American Express.

She learned she won at the end of January, just a few days after her 30th birthday. Kiddell received a FedEx letter telling her it was her lucky day. "It was my best birthday ever," said the Northbrook native.

While a little skeptical at first, Kiddell said she doesn't enter many contests and recalled entering this one in December.

"She did a little research and found the contest was indeed legitimate," Kiddell's mother said as she proudly watched her daughter accept her prize Friday.

Kiddell, who works in Vernon Hills, said she usually shops at Westfield Hawthorn and is looking forward to starting her spree Saturday.

Topping her spending list is a new set of luggage from Kahler Travel Works. "I travel a lot," she said. She is also considering buying a trip to Hawaii or somewhere else warm for herself and boyfriend Brian.

"Then, of course, I'll buy some clothes," said the avid shopper. Macy's and Cache are her stores of choice.

Following the thoughts of how to fill her shopping bags, she naturally wondered about how she would be taxed on her prize. "I thought of the tax consequences right away," she admits.

Because she is being issued a gift card that has to be used over the next year, Kiddell figured out her 2008 tax bill will be $5,600 higher because of her prize money. "So, there's a little cost to the prize," she said.

Having been trained in Internal Revenue laws and codes, she has already adjusted her withholdings and will save all year to pay the tax bill.

But on Friday, as she was handed the $20,000 black and red gift card and a bouquet of roses, taxes were not her primary concern.

Taxes also crossed the mind of Michael Allison, the village manager of Vernon Hills, who attended the gift-giving event.

"We're going to lock the doors and encourage her to stay here and shop," Allison said with a laugh. He added she can even utilize one of the mall's electric scooters when she gets tired.

If she spends all her prize money at the Vernon Hills mall, about $1,300 would go toward a 6.5 percent sales tax, of which the village's portion is about $200.

Tim Geiges, general manager of Westfield Hawthorn, said he is thrilled a regular customer was awarded the prize. "We couldn't have picked a better person to win," he said.

Australian-based Westfield has interests in 121 shopping centers with 59 in the U.S.

Kiddell can use her gift card at any of the shopping centers, including area Westfield malls in Aurora, Old Orchard and on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.