The Internal Revenue Service has launched an online application to assist taxpayers with balance inquiries. Available on IRS.gov, the tool enables them to view account balances, will include amounts they owe for tax, penalties and interest.

A tax preparer based in Stillwell, Kan., has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for using stolen client identities to obtain income tax refunds. Richard Drake was convicted of using the IDs to receive more than $2 million in refunds in clients' names, which he deposited into his own accounts.

Intuit's non-equity incentive plan boosted compensation for most of Intuit's named executives by double digits for the year ended July 31. CEO Brad Smith had the sharpest increase from that plan, a 60-percent increase that pushed his total compensation 17.3 percent higher than in fiscal 2015.