Intuit says the number of TurboTax units shipped for the tax season through February 17, were 1-percent higher than in the 2017 tax season through February 18. If units shipped via the Free File Alliance—which dropped 12 percent—are not considered, the total is up 2 percent.

Two advisory councils in the Liberty Tax Service network have endorsed the hiring of three new executives by the tax services chain. The council's official statement noted that the new execs come out of the franchisee and area developer base.

Thomson Reuters says CEO Jim Smith is expected to be released from a hospital within the next two weeks. Smith was reported to be in stable condition in a Toronto, Ont., hospital, after suffering an arrhythmia incident on February 12.