Innovative and Customized: Modular Tax Stamps from LEONHARD KURZ Secure Tax Revenues and Protect Consumers

Fürth/Germany, April 2, 2025: Each year, counterfeit cigarettes, spirits, and luxury goods cause billions of dollars in tax losses and expose consumers to serious risks. LEONHARD KURZ addresses these challenges with a cutting-edge tax stamp system that helps prevent counterfeiting, protects tax revenues, and enhances supply chain transparency. Combining advanced optical and digital security features, the solution sets new benchmarks for tax control and consumer protection. Authorities and businesses alike benefit from a flexible and tamper-proof solution.

The modular system integrates three core security components: Diffractive security elements, printed security labels, and advanced digital authentication software. These modules are available individually or as a tailor-made complete solution and can also be customized to meet specific customer requirements. Attendees at the international Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum, which will take place from April 7 to 9 in Cape Town, South Africa, will get an exclusive look at KURZ’s latest innovations. In their presentation ‘Future-Proofing Tax Stamps: Using Physical Features in Software-Supported Authentication and Data Management,’ Thomas Brücklmeier and Dr. Benno Schmitzer will present the latest developments in future-proof tax stamps.

Diffractive Transfer Carriers Based on KINEGRAM^® Technology

At the heart of the system is a diffractive transfer carrier featuring more than 30 selectable security elements. Both the shape and size of these features can be customized. Thanks to KURZ’s proprietary KINEGRAM^® technology, the stamps deliver strong visual authentication and make counterfeiting extremely difficult. KINEGRAM^® has proven its reliability on billions of banknotes worldwide and outperforms standard holograms by offering controlled movement and unique security effects.

Marking, Coding, or Authenticating with Security Printing

The second core element includes custom-designed security labels, available as wet-glue or self-adhesive options. These labels prevent reuse and can be enhanced with exclusive ValiGate^® technology, which adds a unique security structure directly to the stamp via direct printing. End users can verify the digital certificate simply by scanning a QR code with their smartphone.

TRUSTCODE^®: Digital Authentication and Transparent Supply Chain Security

KURZ also offers TRUSTCODE^®, a web-based authentication and information platform. Seamlessly integrated into KINEGRAM® elements, TRUSTCODE^® enables full traceability of tax stamps throughout their entire lifecycle - from issuance and tracking to data analysis. Tax authorities benefit from higher revenues, businesses protect their brands from counterfeiters, and consumers gain immediate confidence by verifying product authenticity with a simple scan.

By combining these modules, KURZ provides a flexible, highly effective solution that strengthens security and supply chain transparency. As a full-solution provider, KURZ goes beyond individual components to offer end-to-end support - from system design to long-term operational management.

KURZ: More Than 30 Years of Anti-Counterfeiting Expertise

For more than three decades, KURZ has been safeguarding governments and companies worldwide with innovative security technologies. Its subsidiary, OVD Kinegram, is the global leader in high-security documents like passports and driver’s licenses with KINEGRAM^® technology. KURZ continuously invests in R&D and complies with top international quality and security standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, Intergraf, ITSA), ensuring the highest levels of trust and reliability for clients.

At a Glance

Tax Stamp & Traceability Forum from April 7 to 9, 2025, in Cape Town, South Africa
KURZ Presentation: ‘Future-Proofing Tax Stamps: Using Physical Features in Software-Supported Authentication and Data Management,’ Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 9:00 AM
Speakers: Thomas Brücklmeier, Dr. Benno Schmitzer