Liberty Tax Service Franchise Ranked on PODER’s 2010 Top Franchises for Hispanics List

(Virginia Beach, VA) For the fourth time, Liberty Tax Service is the only tax service included on PODER magazine's 2010 list of the "Top 26 Franchises for Hispanics" (June-July 2010). The magazine based its evaluation on "historical performance, brand identification, franchisee satisfaction, training, ongoing support, and financial stability." PODER also heavily weighed the value of the companies that "operate profitable businesses while also demonstrating an exceptional level of Latino participation and support for the Hispanic community."

"We are honored to be included on the PODER list again. It is our intention to keep our franchise opportunity attainable and affordable, and a clear choice for its potential and ongoing support," said John Hewitt, CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service.

Liberty Tax Service has embraced diversity in its recruiting of Hispanic franchisees and preparers, and has greatly expanded its Hispanic Services initiative since an initial launch in 2004. Liberty's Hispanic Initiative program - Una Familia Sin Fronteras [A Family Without Boundaries] offers cultural education and training to recruit bilingual staff, covers culturally appropriate customer service, provides all staff with opportunities for professional growth and addresses culturally appropriate tax issues. Through this initiative, Liberty Tax Service has also been educating thousands of Hispanic adults on ways to achieve financial and future success in the United States. Many new Hispanic immigrants are not even aware that they are required to file taxes. In order to do so, many must obtain an "Individual Taxpayer Identification Number," or ITIN. Liberty Tax provides free seminars about ITIN preparation accompanied by free preparation of ITINs by bilingual preparers. The initiative has earned the respect and support of institutions and educational organizations including public school districts, the Mexican government's Foreign Ministry's Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME, or Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior), and national non-profit organizations.

Liberty Tax Service has just announced the creation of the Una Familia Sin Fronteras Foundation, the first Foundation in the industry which specifically aims to contribute to Hispanic immigrants' success through fiscal and financial education.

About Liberty Tax Service:
Liberty Tax Service is the fastest-growing retail tax preparation company in the industry's history. Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty Tax Service has prepared over 8,000,000 individual income tax returns. With 41 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt is the most experienced CEO ever in the tax preparation business, having also founded Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE:JTX).

Liberty Tax Service provides computerized income tax preparation, electronic filing, and online filing through eSmart Tax. With an emphasis on customer service including audit assistance, a money-back guarantee, free ITINs for all immigrants and free tax return checking, Liberty Tax Service is well known for its strong commitment to its client base. Liberty Tax Service also provides a Hispanic Services Seal of Excellence Certification program that ensures that its offices provide bilingual assistance and are knowledgeable about how to properly serve the Hispanic community.

The Liberty Tax Service franchise opportunity is #9 on the fastest-growing franchises list of the 2010 Entrepreneur "Franchise 500" and was selected as one of the top 25 Franchises for Hispanics by PODER magazine in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. The company is a member of the International Franchise Association, and an active member of its MinorityFran and VetFran programs.