The new CFO was VP of finance for Liberty tax starting in October 2014. Bates previously worked at Catapult Learning from June 2010 and was CFO from February 2014 through September 2015.

Bates was given an annual base salary of $300,000 and a target maximum bonus of 50 percent of his base salary and was granted $500,000 worth of restricted stock units of the company Class A common took.

Since Hewitt's firing, he has used his control of the company's Class B stock to replace two members of the board of directors. Two other directors have quit and Michael Piper, VP of financial products resigned on September 5, even though he would have been eligible for a retention bonus.

Hewitt was replaced as CEO by Edward Bruno. SEC documents and media in the Virginia Beach, Va., area, say his dismissal followed an investigation by a prominent law firm. The newspaper, the "Virginia Pilot" said the firm heard complaints by employees that Hewitt was heard having sex in his office and that he allegedly favored employees with whom he was romantically involved.

The tax store chain also entered new employment agreement with the base salary of chief counsel, Vanessa M. Szajnoga set at $300,000 and that of CIO Richard Artese at $240,000. These were effective on December 2012. The maximum target bonus for the two is 50 percent of their base salary. Szajnoga received a $300,000 stock grant; Artese, $100,000.