Avalara, which makes cloud-based sales-and-use tax products, has entered alliances with the Maryland and Illinois CPA societies. The agreements mean Avalara now has formal relationships with 10 state societies and the company expects more to follow.

The second time may be the charm for H&R Block which has reached an agreement to sell its own H&R Block Bank to Bofi Federal Bank. Last year, Block had a deal to sell the operation to Republic Bank but that Louisville, Ky.-based operation dropped the idea when it could not get regulatory approvals. Block expects the deal will close before the 2015 tax season.

CCH's Site Builder now integrates with Pay Pal which CCH says provide efficiently in collecting payments. The website construction software also offers new mobile-ready website designs which the company describes as offering clear, vivid displays on mobile devices.

Xero says the number of users of its cloud-based accounting software in North America hit 18,000 when its fiscal year ended on March 31. That's up from 6,000 at the end of fiscal 2013. Meanwhile, revenue for New Zealand-based company on the continent reached about $2.8 million, an increase of 154 percent over the prior year.