Exhibit (12) ------------ Pitney Bowes Inc. Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1) ----------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------------------------- ----------------------------- 2004 2003 2004 2003 --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------ Income before income taxes.................................... $ 200,638 $ 171,794 $ 584,607 $ 511,037 Add: Interest expense............................................ 43,046 41,810 126,670 126,323 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor.................................... 12,881 10,724 38,224 33,413 Amortization of capitalized interest.................................................. 369 369 1,105 1,105 Minority interest in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges............................. 1,361 876 3,194 2,974 --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------ Income before income taxes, as adjusted....................... $ 258,295 $ 225,573 $ 753,800 $ 674,852 =============== ============ ============= ============ Fixed charges: Interest expense............................................ $ 43,046 $ 41,810 $ 126,670 $ 126,323 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor.................................... 12,881 10,724 38,224 33,413 Minority interest, excluding taxes, in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges................... 2,000 1,270 4,694 4,327 --------------- ------------ ------------- ------------ Total fixed charges........................................... $ 57,927 $ 53,804 $ 169,588 $ 164,063 =============== ============ ============= ============ Ratio of earnings to fixed charges............................ 4.46 4.19 4.44 4.11 =============== ============ ============= ============ <FN> (1) The computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing income before income taxes as adjusted by fixed charges. Included in fixed charges is one-third of rental expense as the representative portion of interest. </FN>