Consumers continue to start and complete returns later in the tax season, Blucora CEO Chris Walters, said this month. Walter said the rate of efiling in the first two weeks of this season are “approaching 50 percent below what has been seen in past seasons.”

Taxpayers can opt to verify their identities for IRS Online Accounts during virtual interviews with agents of the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS said this week individuals can choose the live sessions with no use of biometrics, including facial recognition.

 A Georgia accountant who worked at a wealth management firm has pleaded guilty to stealing about $800,000 from an elderly client over the last 10 years. Heidi Royal, 52, of Dallas, Georgia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal court this month.