Intuit is taking QuickBooks international, having just introduced its small business accounting product line in the United Kingdom, with a debut in Singapore scheduled for sometime during the fiscal year ended July 31. More English-speaking countries are likely to have introductions over the next three years as Intuit targets British Commonwealth countries.

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Adding forms and features to tax preparation software continues to be important to tax software vendors who are trying to meet tax preparer needs. But increasingly, what's bringing more value to preparers is the ability to have whatever information they need brought together in one spot to make it possible to prepare returns and bill their clients.

H&R Block still doesn't know if it will have a refund loan program next year, the company told analysts as it reported results for the second quarter ended October 30. However, the tax preparation and business services company says it might offer a program via which taxpayers receive advances on refunds, minus tax preparation fees. Meanwhile the company remains in negotiations with HSBC, the bank that has funded its RAL program.