The updated version of the Uniform CPA Examination was launched on April 1. The exam is described as providing an additional assessment of higher-order cognitive skills to test a candidate's critical thinking, problem solving and analytical ability. It also features greater use of task-based simulations to assess those skills.

It's becoming difficult to find new ways of describing the weekly tax season results released by the Internal Revenue Service. For the season through March 31, results, except for the size of refunds, again remained behind the year ago season through April 1.

Several practitioner organizations and firms have recommended changes they say are necessary to improve Internal Revenue Services. The nine groups say an improved governance and oversight structure of the IRS to reverse what they say is an unacceptable level of service to consumes and preparers.