The number of tax returns filed for the tax season to date still lags last year. But with the Internal Revenue Service now accepting filings, the totals are rapidly catching up with the numbers of the 2012 tax season, according to Intuit CEO Brad Smith. While the impact of the late Congressional budget action and resulting delays have been greater in January than Intuit expected, Smith said, "Our results give us confidence we are on track."

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Without spelling out what it means for its CCH operations, Wolters Kluwer has said it is starting a new brand strategy. The Dutch company, parent to CCH, late last week issued a statement it would have a single, worldwide brand. However, the company has been moving toward more visibility of the WK name with the CCH website offering a login to CCH for tax and accounting customers, but to Wolters Kluwer Law & Business for the other major segment of operations.

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Thomson Reuters plans to cut about 2,500 jobs or 4 percent of its workforce this year. The layoffs are coming as the company continues to grapple with the turn around its financial services business and most of the $100 million in estimated severance will come in that area. Meanwhile, the company reported a 6-percent decline in operating profit on a 3-percent revenue for its tax and accounting business for the fourth quarter ended December 31 with organic revenue for the segment up by 1 percent. Read more...