With client retention improving, Automatic Data Processing has raised its revenue outlook for fiscal 2011 as it reported first quarter results that included a drop in earnings but a 6-percent rise in net revenue. Originally, the payroll services client had forecast revenue growth of 1 percent to 3 percent for the year ending June 30. But it has raised the expectation of growth of 3 percent to 5 percent for revenue.

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The standard wisdom has been that professional accountants are crucial in influencing clients to investigate and buy many technology products. And while vendor programs that enlist accountants are not new, there is a renewed interest in the genre and a lot of updating to existing programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Internal Revenue Service wants to be flexible in implementing its paid preparer regulation system and intends to waive the 15 hours of annual continuing education courses required for certain paid tax preparers during the program's first year. IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman made those comments in a speech delivered before the Fall Tax Meeting of the American Institute of CPAs this week.