MasterCard Teams with Official Payments Corp. to Offer Convenient, Secure and Cost-Effective Tax Payment Options; MasterCard(R) Cardholders Offered Exclusive Value-Added Offer for Balance Due Payments

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2006--MasterCard International in partnership with Official Payments Corp.(R), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tier Technologies Inc. and the leading provider of electronic payment options to government entities, today unveiled an exclusive value-added offer that will make it easier for individual taxpayers to settle their U.S. federal tax obligations. Through this specially reduced convenience fee offer, MasterCard cardholders are provided with a convenient, secure and cost-effective way to prepare and pay their federal personal income tax balance due payments online.

"Tax preparation and payment can be a daunting task, so we have teamed with Official Payments Corp. to make the process more convenient and cost-efficient for MasterCard cardholders," said Donna Johnson, vice president of New Markets at MasterCard International. "Cardholders enjoy the ease, security and rewards opportunities that come with using payment cards to pay taxes, and are choosing to do so at an increasing rate. With this in mind, we set out to put together a program that gives taxpayers even more incentive to settle their taxes online with MasterCard."

“Every year taxpayers nationwide rely on Official Payments Corp. to provide them with the easiest, fastest and most secure way to pay federal, state and local taxes.”

In 2005, taxpayers paid over $260 million in federal tax obligations with MasterCard cards. According to IRS statistics, more than 68 million Americans chose IRS e-file in 2005 -- 11 percent more than the year before. The total number of individual tax returns in calendar year 2006 is expected to grow to nearly 135 million, and the IRS expects a record number of e-filers this year.

"It gives us great pleasure to join with our long-standing partner MasterCard in providing this exclusive opportunity for the benefit of federal taxpayers," said James R. Weaver, Tier's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Every year taxpayers nationwide rely on Official Payments Corp. to provide them with the easiest, fastest and most secure way to pay federal, state and local taxes."

Official Payments' principal business is processing electronic payments on behalf of government entities via its Web site, http://www.officialpayments.com, and its toll-free telephone number, 1-800-2PAY-TAX(SM) (1-800-272-9829). Official Payments charges citizens a convenience fee for the service. Citizens using credit or debit cards with bonus rewards programs may, depending on their card's program, earn reward points, airline frequent flyer miles or cash back for paying their taxes and fees.

How Does This Program Work?

Reduced Convenience Fee Offer: To participate in this program, taxpayers must make a federal personal income tax payment online using a MasterCard(R) card at www.officialpayments.com/mcfeeoffer.jsp. A specially reduced 1.99 percent convenience fee will automatically be applied (reduced from the standard 2.49 percent). The offer is valid only for online payments made between January 1 and April 17, 2006. For complete details, including additional terms and conditions that may apply, please visit www.mastercard.com/2006tax.

For More Information

Taxpayers with specific questions about their U.S. federal income tax obligations and regulations should contact the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov.

About Tier

Tier (Nasdaq: TIER) is a leading provider of transaction processing and packaged software and systems integration services for public sector clients. We combine our understanding of enterprise-wide systems with domain knowledge enabling our clients to rapidly channel emerging technologies into their operations. We focus on sectors that we believe are driven by forces that make demand for our services less discretionary and are likely to provide us with recurring long-term revenue streams. More information about the Company is available at www.Tier.com.

About MasterCard International

MasterCard International is a leading global payments solutions company that provides a broad variety of innovative services in support of our global members' credit, deposit access, electronic cash, business-to-business and related payment programs. MasterCard, through its principal operating subsidiary, MasterCard International Incorporated, manages a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard(R), Maestro(R) and Cirrus(R) and serves financial institutions, consumers and businesses in over 210 countries and territories. The MasterCard award-winning Priceless(R) advertising campaign is now seen in 105 countries and in 48 languages, giving the MasterCard brand a truly global reach and scope. For more information go to www.mastercardinternational.com.