Tech news: Xero announces online bill pay

Xero announces online bill pay

Small business accounting platform Xero announced a new online bill pay solution that combines Xero's platform with Melio's payment processing capabilities. Users can pay their bills directly from within Xero, whether via a bank account or credit card. They can pay one bill or many at once, as well as schedule or expedite payments. Bills are automatically marked as paid and reconciled via Xero's JAX AI assistant. The software also provides real-time visibility into what's due, what's been paid and overall spending. The new feature also supports flexible accounts payable workflows for advisors and their clients. Advisors can help clients manage bills, process payments and reconcile transactions directly in Xero, without a need for a separate Melio subscription. They also do not need direct access to client bank accounts, because payment status and reconciliation live in Xero. Approval workflows and the ability to delegate payments requests will also be launching this year.

TaxRock announces 2.0 edition

IRS monitoring and compliance solutions company TaxRock released its 2.0 edition. The platform replaces snapshot-based monitoring with continuous visibility into IRS account activity, with AI embedded into the core architecture. The software features always-on IRS visibility with advanced threat detection, secure data handling and constant monitoring. The AI assistant, Rocky, brings together all IRS accounts, transcripts and activity into a single, continuously updated view. It will also notify users the moment something changes, so they can act early and avoid costly surprises. TaxRock 2.0 is now available nationwide to tax professionals, lenders, payroll providers and organizations managing ongoing IRS exposure.

MyCPE One launches comprehensive learning and development services

Watching a webinar online - online CPE - online learning

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Professional continuing education company MyCPE One has officially launched its Learning and Development Services platform, designed specifically for accounting and CPA firms seeking to build structured, measurable and future-ready talent ecosystems. The offering includes development of firm-wide L&D policies aligned to designation levels and service lines; formation and governance of L&D committees; customized mandatory training roadmaps by role; instructor sourcing and structured internal training frameworks; CPE compliance and certification tracking; talent gap analysis and capability assessments; learning-linked incentive structures; monthly firm-specific technical and advisory training days; dedicated L&D management oversight; and quantifiable impact reporting tied to performance metrics.

Partnerships and integrations and M&A

Embedded tax solutions provider April announced a pair of new integrations that will result in people being able to file their taxes for free. Acorns, a savings and investment platform, will use the agreement with April to offer complimentary federal and state tax filing for all Acorns Gold customers. With this new offering, Acorns Gold customers can file their taxes through the platform and invest their tax refund as soon as it arrives. Robinhood, an online trading platform, also announced a new collaboration with April that will give Robinhood customers the ability to file their 2025 federal and state taxes at no cost through April 15, 2026. Customers can also access their potential tax refunds up to four days faster if they choose to deposit directly into their Robinhood brokerage account. The new tax filing experience through April is rolling out now to customers on mobile and web. … Top 25 firm Armanino has entered into a strategic partnership with Accrual to deploy its AI-native accounting platform across the firm. Through the partnership, Armanino will gain early expanded access to Accrual's augmented intelligence platform, beginning with support for individual 1040 tax returns. As an early strategic partner, Armanino will provide ongoing feedback and domain expertise to help shape Accrual's product roadmap as the platform scales, working closely with Accrual to pilot and co-develop multiple new product lines launching in partnership over the coming year. Initially, Accrual will be deployed within Armanino's tax and business management practices, in a phased rollout. Over time, the firms plan to expand agentic AI capabilities into additional areas, including audit, advisory and firm operations. … Medius, a provider of AP automation and spend management solutions, announced a partnership with Adyen, a global financial technology platform, to launch corporate expense cards with up to a 0.5% cashback feature. The cards offer automated expense tracking, AI-driven fraud prevention, multi-currency support, and Apple Pay/Google Wallet integration. … Net at Work, a technology solutions and managed services provider, announced the acquisition of OnPar Technologies, a North Carolina-based managed services provider with clients in 35 states. OnPar was represented by IT ExchangeNet, a global advisor specializing in the sale of managed service providers. This is the third acquisition in a short period, having recently announced acquisitions BHE Consulting and Network Computer Solutions in January. … Fourlane, an Intuit QuickBooks solution provider, and Intuit Inc. announced that Fourlane has been appointed as an official reseller of Intuit Enterprise Suite, Intuit's cloud-based, AI-native ERP solution built to help mid-market organizations scale. As an official Intuit Enterprise Suite reseller, Fourlane will provide software licensing, implementation, data migration, custom development, technical support, and ongoing CFO-level advisory services for growing, multi-entity and project-based businesses across manufacturing, distribution, construction, health care, nonprofit, retail and professional services. … Intuit's TurboTax is partnering with Uber to give filers free rides (up to $25) to their new TurboTax Stores or Expert Offices nationwide. People can either visit turbotax.intuit.com/book-and-ride to make their appointment with an expert and get their free ride credit, or book via the prompt in the Uber app (in participating cities).