Tech news: Karbon Practice Management evolves into Practice Intelligence

Karbon Practice Management evolves into Practice Intelligence product

Karbon accepts Talent Visionary Award.

Accounting practice management software provider Karbon announced its new Practice Intelligence product, an agentic AI-driven solution that's the next evolution of its Practice Management platform. CEO Mary Delaney described it as combining everything Karbon Practice Management already is, with a new intelligence layer woven throughout the platform to power deeper insights, smarter automation and bolder strategic decisions. These new capacities will be built out gradually over the coming months and will include AI workflow agents that will be embedded in task lists and timelines to automatically execute actions, fetch data, update statuses, and communicate with clients; intelligent pricing suggestions based on historical data for upcoming client proposals and agreements; enhanced collaboration features such as delegated triage email inboxes and meeting transcripts with AI summaries; and integrated workflows that will enable activity from integrated apps to automatically trigger work creation and updates within Karbon.

The company also announced new tax workflows and features. These include client organizers integrated with StanfordTax; real-time insights showing how work moves through each tax stage; first-in, first-out queues to stay organized and focused on the most urgent tasks; automated extension management to track and manage extensions within Karbon; and tech stack integrations with providers including Intuit ProConnect Tax, TaxPlan IQ, TallyFor and TaxNow to create a unified tax ecosystem.

Paychex releases accountant portal

Payroll and HR solutions provider Paychex announced Paychex Partner Pro, a portal designed to provide accountants with quick access to critical client data, reporting and insights for their business clients that use Paychex Flex. Accountants previously using Paychex's AccountantHQ can now access the functionality of Paychex Flex through a dashboard with simplified workflows, providing an experience that matches what their clients see. Paychex Partner Pro features include client search capabilities with the option to pin five clients to the main dashboard for easy access to key details; insights to identify clients with missing tax IDs, Social Security numbers and/or missed payroll dates to stay ahead of potential issues; and access to a dedicated hub that offers firms relevant customer specific insights.

Avalara launches APIs for 1099, W-9 solutions

Scott McFarlane, chief executive officer of Avalara Inc., center, points to a monitor during the company's IPO on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Tax automation solutions provider Avalara announced the launch of new application programming interfaces for its 1099 and W-9 solutions, allowing companies to embed their compliance workflows into their existing ERP, accounting, e-commerce or marketplace platforms. An API is a type of software bridge that allows two computer systems to directly communicate with each other using a predefined set of definitions and protocols. Any software integration depends on API access to function. Avalara's API access enables users to directly collect W-9 forms from vendors; validate tax IDs against IRS databases; confirm mailing addresses with the U.S. Postal Service; electronically file 1099 forms with the IRS and states; and deliver recipient copies from one central location. Avalara's new APIs allow for e-filing of 1099s with the IRS without even creating a FIRE account.

Wolters Kluwer releases AI audit documentation solution

Wolters Kluwer HQ

Wolters Klower announced TeamMate+ AI Editor, a generative AI writing engine designed to enhance the quality of audit documentation with data protection and safeguards. It features tailored, context-aware, pre-built suggestions to help auditors improve the quality of their documentation without the need for custom prompt development; a set of pre-built prompts to enhance clarity, adjust tone, summarize lengthy text or translate work into different languages; enhanced data protection functionality through measures such as data isolation, no data retention, end-to-end encryption and a PII Blocker for personally identifiable information; and built-in safeguards to discourage inaccurate or irrelevant outputs.

Progress ShareFile rolls out client hub, other enhancements

SpicyTruffel - stock.adobe.com

Document sharing and collaboration solutions provider Progress Software announced that Progress ShareFile, its SaaS-native document-based collaboration and client workflow product, now sports a client hub and other enhancements for accountants. The new client hub (currently in beta) provides a centralized view of client information, files, folders and projects so firms gain access to the details they need to move work forward. The new AI document assistant transforms lengthy documents into actionable insights by extracting key details. The upgraded income tax return solution now includes enhanced client onboarding workflows that allow firms to create multiple engagements in bulk to accelerate onboarding. And the new ShareFile for Clients mobile app (beta) gives clients a secure way to stay engaged on the go. Progress will showcase the latest ShareFile product innovations at AICPA Engage 2025, June 9–12, 2025, in Las Vegas.

Partnerships, integrations and M&A

Automation platform Quadient announced the acquisition of Serensia, a French electronic invoicing platform provider accredited by the French government as a Partner Dematerialization Platform. With ownership of a Peppol access point—a secure gateway for document exchange—Quadient can now offer a compliant, end-to-end e-invoicing solution to the millions of companies across Europe that will be required to transition to electronic invoicing under upcoming regulatory mandates. … Accounting solutions provider Sage announced a partnership with CPA.com, which licenses select AICPA resources to train Sage Copilot, its generative AI assistant designed to support accountants and finance teams with authoritative, context-aware guidance. The announcement was made at Sage Future, the company's flagship global customer event, held this week in Atlanta. … Small business accounting platform Xero announced that users who have an account with payments company Stripe can now use Tap To Pay on iPhone, enabling Xero customers in the U.S. with a Stripe account to accept in-person contactless payments with their iPhone and the Xero Accounting app. No additional hardware or payment terminal are needed. Tap to Pay on iPhone enables businesses to accept all forms of contactless payments, including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets. … Trust and security compliance automation solutions provider Scytale acquired AudITech, a provider of Sarbanes Oxley IT general controls automation solutions, which integrate with a company's IT general control system and audits all controls and populations daily. This acquisition will enable Scytale to offer security, privacy and AI compliance automation for standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and now SOX ITGC in one platform. … Business aviation solutions provider MySky is acquiring the State Tax Guide from Jet Support Services Inc , significantly expanding the capabilities of its MySky Tax solution. This acquisition offers users up-to-date U.S. state aviation tax information, which will soon be embedded within the platform. … Accounting firm-focused payments solutions provider CPACharge announced a new partnership with SafeSend, part of Thomson Reuters. This new partnership will enable tax and accounting firms to get paid as clients receive their tax returns, as well as allow firms to embed CPACharge directly into the workflow for SafeSend One, SafeSend's flagship product.

Other news

Finops solutions provider Pivot Payables announced that its accounting automation application, PivotLynx, is now available in the Amazon Business App Center. This integration gives Amazon Business account holders the ability to issue scenario-based virtual credit cards directly within PivotLynx, enabling pre-approved purchases and eliminating the traditional post-purchase reconciliation process. … U.K.-based financial reporting platform Joiin has been featured in Xero's featured app collection this month. Selected from over 1,000 apps on the Xero App Store, Joiin will be showcased throughout June on the App Store homepage across all supported regions. To mark the occasion, Joiin is offering a 14-day free trial to Xero users. … Vena, an agentic-AI driven FP&A platform, has been named a top-ranked or leading product in 55 categories across four peer groups in The Planning Survey 25 conducted by the Business Application Research Center (BARC).