Most tax season categories measured by the Internal Revenue Service are ahead of the 2017 tax season. For the season through March 16, efiled returns prepared by professionals were .8 percent behind the year-ago season through March 17. However, that amount represented a continuing narrow over last year.

TaxAct has entered a partnership with Everlance, which markets an app to enable self-employed workers and small businesses to track mileage and expenses. Everlance is available for use by those who prepared returns via the TaxAct Professional suite.

Vertex has named Mike Bernard, who had a 28-year career at Microsoft, as its chief tax officer. He will replace Peggi Rockefeller, who is retiring after working at the transaction tax software company since 2012.