MasterCard Teams With H&R Block and Link2Gov to Simplify Tax Payments; Credit and Debit MasterCard(R) Cardholders Can Settle Federal Tax Obligations Online without Paying a Convenience Fee

PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2006--MasterCard International today announced the expansion of a program first introduced last year that makes it easier for taxpayers to settle their U.S. federal tax obligations. Thanks to a relationship with H&R Block(R), the world's largest tax services company, and Link2Gov, a Metavante affiliate that provides online payment processing for government agencies, MasterCard cardholders will be offered two ways to pay their federal tax year 2005 Form 1040 balance due payment online without incurring a convenience fee.

"Using your MasterCard card to pay taxes is about ease, convenience, and, in many cases, rewards," said Donna Johnson, vice president of New Markets at MasterCard International. "The success of last year's first-of-its-kind 'convenience fee free' Debit MasterCard offer led to an expansion of the program this year to also include a rebate offer for Credit and Debit MasterCard(R) cards. Now taxpayers have even more incentive to settle their taxes online with MasterCard."

“Using your MasterCard card to pay taxes is about ease, convenience, and, in many cases, rewards”

The IRS reported that 1,160,000 taxpayers paid through electronic funds withdrawal last year, or 39 percent more than in 2004. The agency also reported that payment to the IRS by credit card rose 53 percent, to 1,574,000, in 2005. In 2005, taxpayers paid over $260 million in federal tax obligations with MasterCard cards. TowerGroup estimates that consumers will make 380 million federal, state, and local tax payments this year.

How Do These Programs Work?

Zero Percent Convenience Fee for Debit: To participate in this program, taxpayers must purchase an H&R Block(R) Online Tax Program through www.hrblock.com/goto/mcdebit/. Using H&R Block's online tax program, taxpayers then complete their federal income tax Form 1040 (including forms 1040A, 1040V, and 1040EZ). When they are ready to settle the taxes due, they choose the PAY1040 hyperlink (www.pay1040.com) provided within the H&R Block tax program and pay the outstanding balance using their Debit MasterCard Card. The offer is valid only for online payments made on or before Oct. 16, 2006. For complete details, including availability and additional terms and conditions that may apply, please visit www.mastercard.com/2006tax.

Convenience Fee Rebate for Credit and Debit: To participate in this new program, taxpayers must purchase an H&R Block(R) Online Tax Program through www.hrblock.com/goto/mcrebate/. Using H&R Block's online tax program, taxpayers then complete their federal income tax Form 1040 (including forms 1040A, 1040V, and 1040EZ). When they are ready to settle the taxes due, they choose the PAY1040 hyperlink (www.pay1040.com) provided within the H&R Block tax program, make one 1040 balance due payment using their Credit or Debit MasterCard Card, and have the full 2.49 percent convenience fee rebated back on the first $350 of the balance due payment. The offer is valid only for online payments made on or before Oct. 16, 2006. For complete details, including availability and 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 H&R Block

H&R Block Inc. (www.hrblock.com) is a diversified company with subsidiaries that deliver tax, financial, mortgage and business products and services. It is the only major company with subsidiaries offering a full range of software, online and in-office tax solutions, combined with personalized financial advice about retirement savings, home ownership, and other opportunities to help clients build a better financial future. As the world's largest tax services company, H&R Block served nearly 21 million clients in the U.S. and 11 countries in 2003. H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc. offers investment services and securities products. With more than 1,000 financial advisors serving clients at more than 400 offices, H&R Block Financial Advisors Inc. is a member NYSE, SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and a registered investment advisor. H&R Block Inc. is not a registered broker-dealer and is not a registered investment advisor. H&R Block Mortgage Corp. offers a full range of retail mortgage products. Option One Mortgage Corp. provides mortgage services and offers wholesale mortgage products through large financial institutions and a network of 24,000 independent mortgage brokers. RSM McGladrey Business Services Inc. and its subsidiaries serve mid-sized businesses and their owners with tax, accounting and business consulting services, as well as personal wealth management services.

About Link2Gov Corp

Link2Gov Corp., a Metavante company, has been providing comprehensive, customized electronic service applications for the government sector since 1995. The Nashville-based Company provides online payment processing for many government agencies across the United States including the Internal Revenue Service. Other Link2Gov payment services include the collection of utility bills, vehicle registrations, and driver's license renewals, parking tickets, traffic citations, tuition payments, court fees and fines, hunting and fishing licenses as well as various licenses for businesses. Offering cutting-edge payment solutions, Link2Gov is Streamlining Transactions through Technology. For more information on Link2Gov visit www.link2gov.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.