IRTA was founded in 1979 and is the global association that advocates 24/7 for the barter and trade industry. IRTA works everyday to preserve, protect and enhance the retail barter, corporate barter and complementary currency sectors of the industry. IRTA provides an ethics based global organization for its members that and is dedicated to advancing the barter industry through education, increased public awareness, self regulation, adherence to high professional standards and governmental relations. IRTA's 100 member companies are from 25 countries and represent the finest organized barter systems in the world. IRTA was responsible for legalizing the barter industry in the U.S. with the passage of the 1982 Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA). IRTA also owns and manages the barter industry's largest inter-exchange trading platform called Universal Currency Clearinghouse, Inc. (UC).