Armanino, a San Ramon, Calif-based accounting firm, has taken on two new tax partners. These are Alex Thacher, who now leads the state and local tax practice, and Peter Klinger who has become the firm’s compensation and benefits tax specialist.

An Irving, Texas-based tax preparer has pleaded guilty to preparing returns that caused the government an $8.3-million tax loss. Preparer Francisco Ventura not only prepared phony returns but offered classes to teach other preparers how to do the same.

Refunds started off the tax season behind 2018 levels and fell further behind this month. The average refund was 9.2 percent lower for the period ended February 9, than for the corresponding period end Feb. 8, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service reported this week.