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Technology Stocks : Official Payments Corp. (OPAY) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (22)	1/9/2000 4:09:00 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50

IRS sending out 140 MM pieces of promotional literature for OPAY: biz.yahoo.com Friday January 7, 8:38 am Eastern Time Company Press Release IRS Instruction Forms Arrive This Week Tax Payments Can Be Made by Credit Card Earn credit card points for paying your taxes NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2000-- This week, Americans will start receiving their tax instruction forms from the Internal Revenue Service. As taxpayers read their 1040 Form instructions, they will learn about a new program in which they can make their balance due tax payments by credit card by calling toll-free 1-888-2PAY-TAXSM (1-888-272-9829). The IRS is offering the service through an agreement with Official Payments Corporation (NASDAQ: OPAY - news). In addition to balance due payments, the 1-888-2PAY-TAX(SM) phone number can be used by taxpayers filing for a 1999 tax year extension and also for estimated tax payments for tax year 2000. Official Payments Corp. charges consumers a convenience fee for processing their government payment. The credit card payment service will be available starting January 14, 2000. The 1999 tax year is the first full year of the credit card payment program. During the 1998 tax season, the IRS and Official Payments Corporation (formerly named U.S. Audiotex) conducted a pilot program in which 44,840 tax transactions were processed, representing a total of $174 million in payments. ``The IRS has included the 1-888-2PAY-TAX(SM) number in 140 million 1040 Form instructions this year,' said Thomas R. Evans, Chairman and CEO of Official Payments Corporation. ``We also will advertise in newspapers, magazines, and on television and radio during tax season to build awareness of this convenient payment option,' Mr. Evans added. Information regarding last year's pilot program was not included in IRS tax instructions nor was it widely advertised. Official Payments Corp. charges consumers a convenience fee for processing these credit card transactions. For example, a taxpayer who owed the government $999 and charged their taxes would find a total of $1,024 on their credit card statement -- $999 for the tax bill and $25 for the convenience fee. The complete fee schedule can be found at the Official Payments Corp. Web site at www.officialpayments.com. American Express, Discover©Card and MasterCard© are the credit cards accepted by the program. Taxpayers using credit cards with bonus rewards programs can, depending on their card's program, earn rewards, points, and cash-back or airline frequent flyer miles for paying their taxes. ``Taxpayers have three reasons for using our service: convenience, cash management and rewards. We offer a proven, secure, reliable and convenient way to pay taxes, with the bonus of rewards from credit card affinity programs,' said Mr. Evans. About Official Payments Corp. Official Payments Corporation (formerly U.S. Audiotex Corporation) is the leading provider of electronic payment options to government entities. The company enables consumers to pay government fees and taxes via telephone or the Internet, using their credit cards. The company has partnered with the United States Internal Revenue Service, several state governments and 450+ municipal and county entities, in which it collects property taxes, real estate taxes, parking fines and other government fees by credit card over the telephone and the Internet. Official Payments Corp. is committed to making payments to the government go fast, smart and safe. Official Payments Corp is publicly traded on NASDAQ: OPAY. Safe Harbor Statement: The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among other things: General economic and business conditions; major systems failures; constraints in capacity; trends in the Internet industry; rapid technological changes; maintenance of government contracts; increased competition; and unanticipated problems encountered in year 2000 readiness. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for revisions or changes after the date of this press release. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contact: Bruce J. Zanca E-Mail: BZANCA@OFFICIALPAYMENTS.COM Phone: 917.322-2540