Liberty Tax Offers Free Credit Monitoring in Push to Fight Identity Theft

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA--(Marketwired - Feb 13, 2015) - Liberty Tax, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX)

Fraudulent filing of tax returns is causing headaches for consumers, and the criminal activity is on the rise. The trend has prompted Liberty Tax to offer free identity theft protection for new customers who file their 2014 tax return by March 31. In addition, Liberty Tax will offer these new customers tax preparation at 50% off the cost they paid to any other tax preparation firm last year.

"Identity theft is a real and pervasive issue for consumers today," said Liberty Tax CEO and Founder John T. Hewitt. "We know how much trust people put in their tax preparers and we work hard at Liberty to maintain that trust. By adding this extra layer of security, we are letting hard-working taxpayers know that Liberty Tax is just as committed as they are to keeping their personal information safe."

Increasingly, taxpayers are finding that identity thieves have fraudulently filed a tax return using their personal information to gain access to refunds. Many of the instances have been linked to online filing, where identification, such as a driver's license and Social Security card, are not required. Taxpayers may be unaware of the identity theft until they attempt to file their return and learn from the IRS that a tax return has already been filed using their personal information.

Liberty Tax is aggressive in its fight against identity theft. Liberty Tax consistently evaluates and updates its monitoring software to ensure that it is identifying issues that may flag tax returns. At Liberty Tax locations, preparers perform a variety of procedures, including checking photo identification, that help make in-office, face-to-face interaction one of the most secure ways to prepare tax returns. In the event that a taxpayer does become a victim of tax identity fraud, Liberty Tax can help the taxpayer apply for an Identity Protection Personal identification Number (IPPIN), which expands protection for the taxpayer by adding an identity theft indicator on his or her account.

By offering free credit monitoring and half-off tax preparation fees, participating Liberty Tax locations are going the extra mile for consumers.

Liberty Tax is unwavering in its commitment to safeguard customer information and in its fight against criminals intent on stealing and fraudulently using personal information.

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 4,400 offices and online. 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.