Liberty Tax Can Help Last-Minute Filers Unable to Get Answers From IRS

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA--(Marketwired - Apr 7, 2015) - Liberty Tax, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX)

More than half of the taxpayers who call the IRS for help will not be able to reach a customer service agent, according to the IRS commissioner. With the tax complexities of Obamacare and the limited availability from the IRS, Liberty Tax anticipates a rush of taxpayers seeking assistance from professional tax preparers in the last week of tax season. Liberty Tax is positioned to assist those taxpayers with Obamacare expertise and extended hours at participating offices.

"When you couple the health care law and its tax implications with customer service issues at the IRS, we can't help but anticipate a flood of taxpayers in the final week of filing," said Liberty Tax CEO and Founder John T. Hewitt.

In a speech before the National Press Club last week, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said cuts to his agency have created a "noticeable negative impact on taxpayer service." He went on to add that six of every 10 people who call the IRS cannot reach a customer service rep. "That is truly an abysmal level of service," Koskinen said.

The customer service issues come at a time when the federal government has instituted a complex set of rules regarding the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. Taxpayers have been slower to file this year when compared to last year, and those with questions at this late stage are likely to need the help of a professional tax preparer.

Liberty Tax preparers have been trained to understand Obamacare and its tax implications and can sort out any questions or issues taxpayers may have with regards to the health care law. At participating locations, taxpayers can sign up for health insurance, if they haven't yet done so and qualify for the extended enrollment in the federal or state Marketplace.

Liberty Tax prides itself on customer service and is ready with an increased number of tax preparers and extended office hours to help taxpayers file their 2014 returns. Most Liberty Tax offices will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight beginning April 11, and 24 hours on April 13 and 14. Liberty Tax offices will be open until midnight on April 15.

About Liberty Tax, Inc.
 Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, Liberty Tax, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX) is the parent company of Liberty Tax Service. Liberty Tax is one of the fastest-growing tax preparation franchises and has prepared almost 18 million individual income tax returns in more than 4,300 offices and online. Liberty Tax's online services are available through eSmart Tax, Liberty Online and DIY Tax, and are all backed by the tax professionals at Liberty Tax locations and its nationwide network of approximately 35,000 seasonal tax preparers. Liberty Tax also supports local communities with fundraising endeavors and contributes as a national sponsor for many charitable causes. For a more in-depth look, visit Liberty Tax Service and interact with Liberty Tax on Twitter and Facebook.