Congress to ban IRS from creating online tax filing software, more CPA firms allowing work from home, update on QuickBooks Online Advanced, and how to brainwash your staff with an app

SponsorXerocon: http://cloudaccountingpodcast.promo/xeroconShow Notes00:53 -- Thanks for the reviews! Give us a review on iTunes and we’ll read it on the air.01:51 -- The house passed a bill permanently banning the IRS from creating its own free online tax preparation software. Here’s the coverage in Huffington Post, Business Insider, and ProPublica. For the history on IRS-assisted tax prep and the arguments for and against, listen to Planet Money #760: Tax Hero.08:43 -- As cashless stores grow, so does the backlash — this time in Miami.12:44 -- Can you believe that educators are still teaching people how to use Quicken for business accounting? Here’s a keeper: “Using Quicken for farm and ranch accounting”14:46 -- Xero's out with a new look for their invoicing feature, which now includes auto save and a nifty application of artificial intelligence for coding transactions16:24 -- Canopy released their new mobile app.17:38 -- TaxJar now integrates with NetSuite via SuiteTax, demonstrating their move upmarket in the wake of the SCOTUS Wayfair decision.18:31 -- Thanks to Caleb Jenkins for posting a screenshot of the beta “Receipts” feature in QuickBooks on Twitter. Take a look here.20:20 -- Here’s an update on the QuickBooks Online Advanced free upgrade period. Also, Blake has a hack so you can avoid ever paying for more than 250 accounts or 40 classes/locations.27:19 -- How many CPA firms permit flexible and remote work? Find out as Blake details stats from the 2018 Anytime, Anywhere Work Survey by ConvergenceCoaching.29:49 -- A 2-year Stanford study found that people are significantly more productive when working from home. Watch the TED Talk or read the article.33:59 -- People have a reason to be paranoid when it comes to smart speakers. It turns out Amazon workers are listening to what you tell Alexa.37:26 -- In China, the Communist Party under Xi Jinping is asserting ever greater ideological control over the population — this time with the help of an app.Get in TouchThanks for listening! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and, if you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.