Practice Management

The Internal Revenue Service is promising more video conferencing assistance for taxpayers, social media tools and an improved Web site as it launched tax season Wednesday, along with stepped-up efforts to protect taxpayers from tax refund fraud and identity theft.

A federal court has denied H&R Block’s effort to stop Intuit from continuing to air a pair of TV commercials for TurboTax that comically suggested tax prep franchise employees worked as plumbers and clothing store clerks outside of tax season.

Gary R. St. Pierre CPAs, a firm based in Mount Prospect, Ill., has merged with Michael Silver & Co.

Prager & Fenton LLP and Metis Group LLC, have merged. The two firms will now operate under the name Prager Metis International LLC.

Most former NFL players are bankrupt or under financial stress within two years of retirement. So why aren’t more athletes using financial advisors? A former Pittsburgh Steeler says ego and fear are often to blame, but there are ways for players and advisors to make a winning connection.

Armanino (formerly Armanino McKenna) has merged in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint consulting services company Gradient Vision, in a move to strengthen its own Dynamics CRM

The Internal Revenue Service is scheduled to begin accepting individual income tax returns starting Wednesday.

CCH has introduced the CCH Code & Regs 2013 App, a mobile app for Apple iPhone and iPad and Google Android devices.

This fall the IRS will send out CP2100 and CP2100a Forms, or “B” Notices, to payers who filed incorrect or incomplete forms including those with incorrect name and Taxpayer Identification Number data.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has asked the National Park Service to conduct an internal review of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program to ensure the program is maximizing opportunities to use historic preservation to promote economic development and revitalization of communities, particularly in urban areas.