Compensation for John Clendening, CEO of Blucora, rose by 12.5 percent for the year ended December 31. The company’s recent SEC filings show Clendening received $5.4 million in 2017 compared to $4.8 million the prior year. Blucora is the parent of H.D. Vest and TaxAct.

Executive compensation for Blucora, parent of H.D.Vest and TaxAct, was a new game for 2017. All named executives for whom pay was reported were in their first full year last year.

The United States has sued three men who operate Liberty Tax Service stores in stores recruited homeless individuals, promising to get them welfare, and the then filing fraudulent tax returns in their names. The Justice Department seeks to shut down as many as 15 stores operated  by the three and to recoup fees ranging from $650,000 to $1 million.