ZenPayroll, which targets small businesses, has raised $20 million in funding. The cloud-based company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth, expand into new geographies and to hire more staff. The funding came from General Catalyst Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

The number of customers served by Liberty Tax Service through February 15 is about 7.2 percent higher than in the 2013 tax season. The report was made this week by Liberty's parent JTH Holding. The company said the increase came while the number of locations were down by 2 percent over the prior year.

An Alameda, Calif.-based CPA and his firm have been barred from practice before the SEC. Sam Kan and Sam Kan & Co. drew the action for audits of the financial statements of four client companies, often performed by a staff member with no audit experience. The company also ordered to pay disgorgement of $40,000, $1,155.26 prejudgment interest expense and a $40,000 civil money penalty.