Avantax, which reaches the financial planning market through advisors, is being acquired by Cetera Financial Group. The all cash-deal, valued at about $1.2 billion, marks the end of the final piece of Blucora, which had sought to bring together tax software and financial planning.

 The use of artificial intelligence will increase profits for professional service firms, Thomson Reuters has predicted a recently issued report, “Future of Professionals”.

The Internal Revenue Service plans to intensify its work on accounts of high-income taxpayers, and will increase its use of artificial intelligence on large partnerships. The IRS said it will also ensure audit rates will not increase for those earning less than $400,000 a year.