EXHIBIT 8.1 [LETTERHEAD OF ALSTON & BIRD LLP APPEARS HERE] November 7, 1997 National Data Corporation National Data Corporation Plaza Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2010 Re: Agreement and Plan of Merger by and Between National Data Corporation, Universal...National Data Corp • November 13th, 1997 • Services-business services, nec
We have acted as counsel to National Data Corporation ("NDC"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, in connection with the proposed merger of Universal Acquisition Corp., a wholly- owned subsidiary of NDC ("Sub"), with and into Physician Support Systems, Inc. ("PSS"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with PSS as the surviving corporation (the "Merger"). The Merger will be effected pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger among NDC, Sub, and PSS dated as of October 14, 1997 (the "Agreement"). In our capacity as counsel to NDC, our opinion has been requested with respect to the accuracy of the material under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by NDC on November 13, 1997, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Registration Statement").
