West Virginia Department of Taxation Offers Last-Minute Tax Payment Options; Payments Can Be Made By Credit Card, Via Internet & Telephone

Business Wire, April 10, 2003

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2003

As tax day approaches, the West Virginia Department of Taxation is offering e-payment options for taxpayers who owe a personal income, estimated or extension tax payment to the State.

Citizens can now pay a variety of State taxes with their MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover credit cards. Official Payments Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tier Technologies (Nasdaq: TIER), is the company authorized by the West Virginia Department of Taxation to process these credit card tax payments, which can be made via Internet (www.officialpayments.com) and telephone (1-800-2PAY-TAX(SM)).

Official Payments also works with the Internal Revenue Service to accept credit card payments for federal taxes. More information on the credit card payment option can be found in the West Virginia Department of Taxation and IRS tax forms and instruction booklets.

Official Payments charges taxpayers a small convenience fee for the service. Taxpayers using credit cards with bonus rewards programs may, depending on their card's program, earn rewards, points, and airline frequent flyer miles or cash back for paying their taxes.

     Note to assignment editors and bookers: Official Payments has
   produced a Video News Release on the credit card payment option.
                       Feed information follows:

                  FEED DATE: THURSDAY: APRIL 10, 2003
                        FEED TIME: 1:30-2:00 ET
    COORDINATES: C-BAND: TELSTAR 5 /TRANSPONDER 19/AUDIO FREQUENCY
                              6.2 and 6.4

                   FEED DATE: FRIDAY: APRIL 11, 2003
                        FEED TIME: 1:30-2:00 ET
    COORDINATES: C-BAND: TELSTAR 5 /TRANSPONDER 19/ AUDIO FREQUENCY
                              6.2 and 6.4

ABOUT TIER

Tier is a vertically-focused consulting firm that provides business and information technology consulting, systems design and integration, transaction processing, business process outsourcing and business process reengineering for its clients primarily in the state and local government, healthcare, insurance and utilities markets. Tier brings specific industry knowledge, proven delivery capability and proprietary applications to its client relationships. The combination of domain expertise and technical capability allow Tier to provide solutions that link increased operating efficiencies with systems and technology improvements. Tier serves Fortune 1000 companies and government entities and is included in the Russell 3000(R) Index, issued by Frank Russell Company and has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the "200 Best Small Companies" in America for 2002.

Tier...Expect A Lot(SM)