H&R Block will seek to increase the percentage of high-value clients it serves. That new direction was announced this week by CEO William Cobb during the earnings conference call for results for the tax services company's year ended April 30. Cobb did not define high-level, but noted that Block's operations in Canada and Australia had successfully tested the approach.

Accountants who use Windows XP and Office 2003 need to upgrade their platforms before tax season, according to CPA consultant Randy Johnston. He made that recommendation at this week's AICPA Tech Plus conference based on the sunset dates for those products on April 8, 2014.

Kevin Robert is retiring as CEO of Wolters Kluwer Tax and Accounting in September. He will be replaced by Karen Abramson, who has served as CEO of CCH Tax & Accounting North America. The change will complete a sweep of top spots in the CCH executive suite since Abramson took over from Mike Sabbatis, former head of CCH, last year.