The Instant Cash Advance program offered in 27 states last year by Liberty Tax Service as a test is being cut back. The program will go forward in 21 states during the upcoming tax season, Liberty said this week during an earnings webcast for its parent, JTH Holdings.

Intuit CEO Brad Smith saw his compensation relatively unchanged for the year ended July 31. As reported recently in SEC filings, the company said Smith received $12,463,669 for fiscal 2013, down about $100,000 from the prior year. Smith's pay suffered from a sharp drop in non-equity incentive compensation, which was mostly offset in areas such as option and stock awards.

Perhaps it is time to stop talking simply about mobile offices and talk about portable offices. Mobile implies users venture away from their facilities and are able to stay connected to the firm's computer system via email and the Internet. Portable means practitioners carry the same devices, particularly tablets, out of and around the office.