INTERAC(R) Online Now Being Offered Through Canada Revenue Agency

TORONTO , Oct. 2 /CNW/ - INTERAC(R) is pleased to announce the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as the first major federal government agency to begin accepting INTERAC Online, allowing Canadians to make income tax payments directly from their bank accounts. INTERAC Online is an online payment option that allows Canadians to make secure payments for products or services directly from their bank account, without sharing personal financial information or card numbers.

"The addition of the CRA represents a major milestone in the rollout of INTERAC Online," said Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Acxsys Corporation, architects of the INTERAC network. "We're pleased that the CRA has selected INTERAC as the solution to best meet the needs of the government and the public."

Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), in its role as the Receiver General for Canada , made it possible for the CRA to implement this new service. PWGSC establishes banking services for the Government of Canada . The service has been set up to accept online payments for various types of taxes, including tax payments from consumers and small businesses for income taxes, corporate taxes, payroll taxes, and GST, as well as one-time payments and instalments.

"We are pleased to be able to offer another valuable electronic service to taxpayers and businesses," said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food). "The CRA's My Payment service - which uses the INTERAC Online technology - allows taxpayers and businesses with accounts at participating financial institutions, to send quick, easy and secure payments to the CRA. Payments can be made from any computer with an Internet connection."

INTERAC Online is secure and easy-to-use because it works with existing online banking services of participating Canadian financial institutions. Since the transaction is conducted within the customer's trusted online bank account, no card number or other personal financial information is shared with the online merchant or organization and there is no need for any new passwords to be memorized.

Chase Paymentech, a leading payment processor, is the merchant acquirer of record enabling INTERAC Online for PWGSC and the CRA.

INTERAC Online will be available as a payment option to make tax payments beginning October 5, 2009 .

    
    About Acxsys Corporation
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Acxsys Corporation, comprised of eight large financial institutions as shareholders, is headquartered in Toronto , Ontario. Acxsys specializes in the development and operation of new payment service opportunities as well as consulting and management services in the field of electronic payments. The Corporation's shareholders are the architects of Canada's national network for shared electronic financial services: INTERAC Direct Payment, Canada's national debit card service and INTERAC Shared Cash Dispensing Service for cash withdrawals at Automated Banking Machines. For more information, please visit www.acxsys.ca.

For further information: Tina Romano, Interac Association/Acxsys Corporation, [phone] or [email protected]