It would be nearly impossible to tell you threw out the first return to start the 2014 tax season. Preparers have been working on returns for some days. But after a delay stemming from the government shut down last year, the Internal Revenue Service began processing returns on January 31.

Grant Thornton has created a Global Technology Industry Group. The new unit is led by Steven Perkins, national managing director of the Technology Industry Practice at the Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm, and will start with a steering committee of 17 leaders from the Grant Thornton global network.

A Maplewood, N.J., CPA has pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns. Carlyle Fraser, owner of Fraser CPA and Taxko, faces up to three years and prison and a possible fine of $250,000 for pleading guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false individual income tax returns for clients from 2008 through 2011.