FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Rick Clayburgh, Tax Commissioner 701-328-2770
November 4, 2002

North Dakota Tax Department Offers Credit Card Option

BISMARCK --- State Tax Commissioner Rick Clayburgh today announced that North Dakota taxpayers will be able to pay their taxes by credit card beginning January 1, 2003.

Clayburgh said, "North Dakota's taxpayers have been asking the Office of State Tax Commissioner to allow credit card payment options since the IRS began accepting credit card payments in 1999. I am pleased we can now offer this service as an additional payment option."

Payments can be made either online at www.ndtaxpayment.com or over the phone at 888-ND-TAXES. Both payment methods will accept American Express, Discover, VISA and MasterCard credit and check cards.

"And, we are able to address the Internet access issue," said Clayburgh. "This taxpayer convenience is not limited to only those who have Internet access. If a taxpayer doesn't have online access they can pay over the phone."

Taxpayers who choose to pay their North Dakota income tax with a credit card will be charged a 2.49 percent convenience fee by Link2Gov Corporation to process the credit card transactions.

Clayburgh said, "The convenience fee is retained by the corporation for its services - the State of North Dakota does not receive any part of this fee." Clayburgh noted that taxpayers will be able to opt out of the transaction if they decide they do not want to be charged the additional fee.

Nashville-based Link2Gov Corp., a premiere e-Government technology solutions provider and electronic payment processor, was selected to provide the service. In May Link2Gov was selected by the IRS to process federal tax payments beginning in January 2003.