The Internal Revenue Service has suspended the issuance and renewal of Preparer Tax Identification Numbers. The action follows a recent decision by United States District Court for the District of Columbia which said the IRS had the authority to require the use of PTINs, but not to charge user fees for issuing or renewing them.

Taxpayers who request letter rulings, closing agreements and certain other rulings from the Internal Revenue Service must utilize the government's Pay.gov starting this summer. The requirement replaces the ability to pay these fees via check and money order.

OfficeTools, which markets practice management and workflow applications, has been acquired by AbacusNext. The purchase of OfficeTools by San Diego, Calif.-based AbacusNext is the latest move by the organization to expand into the accounting firm marketplace.