The Internal Revenue Service has reopened its Preparer Tax Identification Number system. The agency closed the PTIN operation after a United States District Court decided on June 1 that the IRS can require use of the numbers but has no legal right to charge fees for issuing or renewing PTINs.

Tax preparers are receiving phishing emails purporting to originate from a tax software education provider in the United States. The Internal Revenue Service said recently the latest communication seeks a wide range of information, including e-Services logons and preparers' mothers' maiden names.

Cloud software vendors Aplos Software and Portalbuzz have merged. Operating under the Aplos name, the company will focus on developing front- and back-office products for nonprofit organizations.