TIER Tier Reit, Inc.

Tier Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: TIER) today announced results for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 and provided updates on continuing strategic growth initiatives.

�Following our strategic review of the company in late 2007 we committed to restructure the company to increase shareholder value. That restructuring is now substantially complete with six completed sales and one signed asset purchase agreement. We are now able to focus all of our attention and resources on advancing our electronic payments solutions in the biller direct market,� said Ronald L. Rossetti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Tier Technologies.

Nina Vellayan, Chief Operating Officer said, �We are pleased to have concluded the acquisition of most of the assets of ChoicePay in late January. We now have a strong and growing Utilities vertical to add to our Government and Higher Education verticals as we continue to broaden our market position.�

Mr. Rossetti added, �The ChoicePay technology, products, and clients are an excellent fit for our long-term strategy and will contribute to our growth this year. In spite of severe economic conditions, we experienced performance in our Property Tax market that was consistent with forecast, and our Utilities and Higher Education verticals are producing strong growth.�

Conference Call

Tier will host a conference call tonight at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. To access the conference call, please dial 888-335-3240 and provide conference ID # 84188515. The conference call will also be broadcast live via the Internet at www.tier.com. A replay will be available at Noon on February 10, 2009 at www.tier.com or by calling 800-642-1687 and entering conference ID # 84188515. The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 23, 2009.

First Quarter Fiscal 2009 Results

For the quarter ended December�31, 2008, Tier reported revenues from Continuing Operations of $29.7�million, a 2.7% increase over the same quarter last year. Net loss from Continuing Operations was ($1.9)�million, or ($0.10) per fully-diluted share.

Continuing Operations include Electronic Payment Processing, or EPP, and certain wind-down businesses. On a standalone basis, our core EPP business reported quarterly revenues of $28.2�million, or a 1.6% increase over the same quarter last year. Our general, administrative, selling and marketing expenses, which support our Continuing Operations, were $7.9�million, down $1.3�million over the same period last year. We expect to see a continued decrease in these types of expenses as we streamline our operations.

Tier�s Discontinued Operations reported revenues of $4.5�million for the quarter, down 67.5% from the same quarter last year. The decrease is primarily due to the sale of several businesses during fiscal 2008. Net loss from Discontinued Operations was ($3.3)�million for the quarter.

Liquidity

As of December�31, 2008, Tier had $77.1�million in cash and marketable securities, and $7.4 million in restricted investments. Tier currently holds $31.2 million in auction rate securities as long-term investments. These investments are revenue bonds and asset-backed notes issued by state agencies. The investments are AAA-rated and collateralized with student loans and guaranteed under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Tier has no short-term or long-term debt.

About Tier Technologies, Inc.

Tier Technologies, Inc. provides federal, state and local government and other public sector clients with electronic payments solutions and other transaction processing services. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Tier Technologies serves over 3,300 electronic payments clients throughout the United States, including federal, state, and local governments, educational institutions, utilities and commercial clients. Through its subsidiary, Official Payments Corp., Tier delivers payments solutions for a wide range of markets. For more information, see www.tier.com and www.officialpayments.com.

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Tier undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Each of these statements is made as of the date hereof based only on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: the impact of governmental investigations; the potential loss of funding by clients, including due to government budget shortfalls or revisions to mandated statutes; the timing, initiation, completion, renewal, extension or early termination of client projects; the Company�s ability to realize revenues from its business development opportunities; the timing and completion of the divestment of the Company�s non-core assets; and unanticipated claims as a result of project performance, including due to the failure of software providers or subcontractors to satisfactorily complete engagements. For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause our actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 filed with the SEC.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tier Technologies, Inc. plans to file with the SEC and furnish to its shareholders a Definitive Proxy Statement in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting, and advises its security holders to read the Proxy Statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. Security holders may obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement and other documents (when available) that Tier files with the SEC at the SEC�s website at www.sec.gov. The Proxy Statement and these other documents may also be obtained for free from Tier by directing a request to Tier Technologies, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, Keith Omsberg, 10780 Parkridge Blvd., 4th Floor, Reston, VA 20191.

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

Tier, its directors and named executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of Tier�s security holders in connection with its 2009 Annual Meeting. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of such individuals in Tier�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008, as amended on January 28, 2009, and its Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement filed January 28, 2009, each of which is on file with the SEC, as well as its upcoming Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting (when available). To the extent there have been changes in Tier�s directors and executive officers, such changes have been reported on Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. To the extent holdings of Tier securities have changed since the amounts printed in the Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement filed January 29, 2009, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the SEC.

� TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets � � (in thousands) � December 31, 2008 � September 30, 2008 (unaudited) ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 34,393 $ 47,735 Investments in marketable securities 11,485 2,415 Accounts receivable, net 5,897 4,209 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,108 1,863 Current assets�held-for-sale � � 10,293 � � � 11,704 � Total current assets 65,176 67,926 � Property, equipment and software, net 4,618 4,479 Goodwill 14,526 14,526 Other intangible assets, net 12,276 13,455 Investments in marketable securities 31,213 28,821 Restricted investments 7,361 7,861 Other assets � � 272 � � � 283 � Total assets � $ 135,442 � � $ 137,351 � � LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS� EQUITY: Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 676 $ 918 Accrued compensation liabilities 3,690 4,289 Accrued discount fees 7,497 5,243 Other accrued liabilities 4,608 4,667 Deferred income 1,790 1,790 Current liabilities�held-for-sale � � 7,988 � � � 9,061 � Total current liabilities 26,249 25,968 Other liabilities � � 106 � � � 136 � Total liabilities � � 26,355 � � � 26,104 � � Commitments and contingencies � Shareholders� equity:

Preferred stock, no par value; authorized shares: 4,579; no shares issued and outstanding

� �

Common stock and paid-in capital; shares authorized: 44,260; shares issued: 20,619 and 20,619; shares outstanding: 19,735 and 19,735

190,588 190,099 Treasury stock�at cost, 884 shares (8,684 ) (8,684 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 1 (2,504 ) Accumulated deficit � � (72,818 ) � � (67,664 ) Total shareholders� equity � � 109,087 � � � 111,247 � Total liabilities and shareholders� equity � $ 135,442 � � $ 137,351 � � � TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations � � Three months endedDecember 31, (in thousands, except per share data) � � 2008 � � � 2007 � Revenues � $ 29,740 � � $ 28,955 � � Costs and expenses: Direct costs 22,418 22,234 General and administrative 6,630 7,109 Selling and marketing 1,316 2,114 Depreciation and amortization � � 1,459 � � � 1,296 � Total costs and expenses � � 31,823 � � � 32,753 � Loss from continuing operations before other income/(loss) and income taxes � � (2,083 ) � � (3,798 ) � Other income/(loss): Loss on investment (112 ) � Interest income, net � � 304 � � � 967 � Total other income � � 192 � � � 967 � � Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (1,891 ) (2,831 ) Income tax provision � � 1 � � � 16 � � Loss from continuing operations (1,892 ) (2,847 ) (Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net � � (3,262 ) � � 1,416 � � Net loss � $ (5,154 ) � $ (1,431 ) � (Loss)/earnings per share�Basic and diluted: From continuing operations $ (0.10 ) $ (0.14 ) From discontinued operations � � (0.16 ) � � 0.07 � (Loss)/earnings per share�Basic and diluted � $ (0.26 ) � $ (0.07 ) � Weighted average common shares used in computing: Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share 19,735 19,543 � � TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows � � Three months ended

December 31,

(in thousands) � 2008 � 2007 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: � Net loss $ (5,154 ) $ (1,431 )

Less: Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net

� � (3,262 ) � � 1,416 � Loss from continuing operations, net (1,892 ) (2,847 ) Non-cash items included in net loss: Depreciation and amortization 1,483 1,314 Provision for doubtful accounts 39 35 Accrued forward loss on contract 25 125 Share-based compensation 468 789 Loss on trading securities 112 � Other � 37 Net effect of changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (1,727 ) (392 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets (602 ) 308 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,308 2,484 Income taxes receivable (61 ) 15 Deferred income � � � � � � (247 ) Cash (used in) provided by operating activities from continuing operations (847 ) 1,621 Cash (used in) provided by operating activities from discontinued operations � � (3,209 ) � � 3,254 � Cash (used in) provided by operating activities � � (4,056 ) � � 4,875 � CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of available-for-sale securities (11,470 ) (3,925 ) Maturities of available-for-sale securities 2,401 5,600 Maturities of restricted investments 500 � Purchase of equipment and software (480 ) (778 ) Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations � � 205 � � � � � Cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations (8,844 ) 897 Cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations � � (437 ) � � (1,269 ) Cash used in investing activities � � (9,281 ) � � (372 ) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net proceeds from issuance of common stock � 29 Capital lease obligations and other financing arrangements � � (5 ) � � (36 ) Cash used in financing activities from continuing operations (5 ) (7 ) Cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations � � � � � � (2 ) Cash used in financing activities � � (5 ) � � (9 )

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(13,342 ) 4,494 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period � � 47,735 � � � 16,516 � Cash and cash equivalents at end of period � $ 34,393 � � $ 21,010 � � � TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations�Continuing Operations � � � (in thousands) � EPP � Wind-down � Total Three months ended December 31, 2008: Revenues � $ 28,241 � � $ 1,499 � � $ 29,740 � Costs and expenses: Direct costs 21,838 580 22,418 General and administrative 6,568 62 6,630 Selling and marketing 1,313 3 1,316 Depreciation and amortization � � 979 � � � 480 � � � 1,459 � Total costs and expenses � � 30,698 � � � 1,125 � � � 31,823 � (Loss)/income from continuing operations before other income/(loss) and income taxes � � (2,457 ) � � 374 � � � (2,083 ) Other income/(loss): Loss on investment (112 ) � (112 )

Interest income, net

� � 304 � � � � � � 304 � Total other income � � 192 � � � � � � � 192 � (Loss)/income from continuing operations before taxes (2,265 ) 374 (1,891 ) Income tax provision � � 1 � � � � � � � 1 � (Loss)/income from continuing operations � $ (2,266 ) � $ 374 � � $ (1,892 ) Three months ended December 31, 2007: Revenues � $ 27,809 � � $ 1,146 � � $ 28,955 � Costs and expenses: Direct costs 21,118 1,116 22,234 General and administrative 6,656 453 7,109 Selling and marketing 1,996 118 2,114 Depreciation and amortization � � 924 � � � 372 � � � 1,296 � Total costs and expenses � � 30,694 � � � 2,059 � � � 32,753 �

Loss from continuing operations before other income and income taxes

� � (2,885 ) � � (913 ) � � (3,798 ) Other income:

Interest income, net

� � 967 � � � � � � � 967 � Total other income � � 967 � � � � � � � 967 � Loss from continuing operations before taxes (1,918 ) (913 ) (2,831 ) Income tax provision � � 16 � � � � � � � 16 � Loss from continuing operations � $ (1,934 ) � $ (913 ) � $ (2,847 ) � � TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations�Discontinued Operations � � Three months ended December 31, 2008 (in thousands) � GBPO � PSSI � Total Revenues � $ � � � $ 4,469 � � $ 4,469 � Costs and expenses: � � Direct costs 3 3,851 3,854 General and administrative 49 675 724 Selling and marketing � 103 103 Depreciation and amortization � 12 12 Write-down of goodwill and intangibles � � � � � � 2,594 � � � 2,594 � Total costs and expenses � � 52 � � � 7,235 � � � 7,287 � Loss before loss of disposal on discontinued operations (52 ) (2,766 ) (2,818 ) Loss on disposal of discontinued operations � � (17 ) � � (427 ) � � (444 ) Loss from discontinued operations, net � $ (69 ) � $ (3,193 ) � $ (3,262 ) � � � Three months ended December 31, 2007 (in thousands) � GBPO � PSSI �

Other andEliminations

� Total Revenues � $ 7,133 � $ 6,610 � � $ � � � $ 13,743 Costs and expenses: � � � Direct costs 4,303 5,047 (138 ) 9,212 General and administrative 550 1,502 41 2,093 Selling and marketing 551 368 14 933 Depreciation and amortization � 20 � 20 Write-down of goodwill and intangibles � � � � � 373 � � � � � � � 373 Total costs and expenses � � 5,404 � � 7,310 � � � (83 ) � � 12,631 Income/(loss) before income on disposal of discontinued operations 1,729 (700 ) 83 1,112 Income on disposal discontinued operations � � � � � 304 � � � � � � � 304 Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net � $ 1,729 � $ (396 ) � $ 83 � � $ 1,416 �