Nonprofit vendor Blackbaud is testing an application that will be used to provide financial analysis for nonprofit organizations and give them the ability to compare their operations against those of their peers. The product is in the middle of an early adopter program and would likely be sold as an add on to the company's applications such as the Financial Edge.

Accountants are increasingly using social media for business. But few get help from their firms in how to apply these tools, according to the 2011 Social CPAs Media Survey. And Barry MacQuarrie, who conducts the survey, said firms need to train those in their firms to get the most out of the new media.

The final story awaits the conclusion of this tax season. But the developments over the last two years point to rougher times ahead for independent tax preparers. These are the businesses that are not part of a tax chain or a CPA firm.