The executives made their comments this week during the webcasts for their respective companies as they reported earnings for the January quarter. Both agreed any growth will occur in the last week of the season. In 2016, filings lagged the prior year until the last week when they surged ahead and the current season appears to be on the same course.

Cobb said he couldn't understand why anyone would back away from predicting growth. However, Hewitt saw two major reasons filings might not achieve Liberty's pre-season forecast of 2-percent growth. The comments came after Liberty reported its returns were 16.4 percent below the 2016 levels while Block's are down 7 percent, beating the industry averge.

"There may be some impact from the PATH Act," Hewitt noted. That act delayed the release of refunds for returns claiming the Earning Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Credit.

Hewitt also predicted an impact from the current federal crackdown on illegal immigration. He said some members of the Hispanic community may not file or may wait until next year to file until they see the outcome of the effort. Those who are not citizens can file tax returns after acquiring a Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. ITINs are issued to those not eligible for Social Security numbers.

"ITIN holders are filing at a reduced rate," Hewitt said.

Bob Scott

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Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind