The company launched this initiative in immediate response to a new IRS law enacted January 7^th that allows those who donate to the tsunami relief through approved non-profit organizations to claim this as a charitable donation on a 2004 tax return.  The contributions must be made by January 31^st in order to take advantage of the deduction for 2004.  Normally, taxpayers would have to wait until next year to claim this deduction.  Tax customers who donate a minimum of $100 to Stop Hunger Now can have their return prepared free at participating Liberty Tax Service offices this tax season.  Hewitt has already made substantial financial contributions to the relief effort through Stop Hunger Now.  Liberty is now the 3^rd largest tax service.  In 8 years, Liberty Tax Service has reached the size that it took the other national tax franchises, H&R Block (NYSE:HRB), and Jackson Hewitt (NYSE:JTX) 13 years to reach.

"Clearly our President and the IRS have reacted quickly to take a positive step to fuse a public-private sector partnership that can make a dramatic difference for the victims of this catastrophe.  With tax season now underway, it's Liberty's prime time to reward the generosity of those contributing to the tsunami relief with free tax preparation, and promote the benefits of this brand new charitable donation tax change." 

In 1998, John Hewitt co-founded Stop Hunger Now, a 501 © 3 non-profit international relief organization that coordinates immediate distribution of food and life savings aid on a global basis.  Stop Hunger Now is directly involved in the relief effort.  Its headquarters are in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Those interested in contributing $100 or more to the tsunami relief effort though Stop Hunger Now can visit the Liberty Tax website at www.libertytax.com and click on the link for Stop Hunger Now.

Liberty Tax Service has over 1,800 offices operating in the United States and Canada in 2004.  The company provides free tax advice and free checking of self-prepared returns at each office.  In January 2005, Entrepreneur magazine ranked Liberty Tax Service as #15 on its Franchise 500 overall list of best franchises.  Accounting Today magazine ranked Liberty fastest growing on its list of top 100 taxes & accounting companies released in March 2004.  Liberty Tax Service is ranked for the second consecutive year on Inc. magazine's 500 23^rd annual ranking of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.

Source:libertytax