Method and system for providing tax based services to customers

• US 20080059349A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hunter, Jacquelynn, Sweeney, Richard Denis, Festa, Julie Ann, Gualandri, J. Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/513,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

A method for assessing taxes for a machine includes collecting machine data from a machine configured to send the machine data to a remote location and determining a first geographic location of the machine based on the machine data. The method also includes determining a first tax due for the machine based on the first geographic location and a first set of tax rules associated with the first geographic location. Before the first tax is due, an analysis may be performed to evaluate whether the first tax can be reduced by moving the machine to a different tax jurisdiction. Based on the results of the analysis, a determination regarding whether to move the machine to the different tax jurisdiction may be made. Information reflecting the determination whether to move the machine to the different geographic location may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for assessing taxes for a machine, comprising:

collecting machine data from a machine configured to send the machine data to a remote location;

determining a first geographic location of the machine based on the machine data;

determining a first tax due for the machine based on the first geographic location and a first set of tax rules associated with the first geographic location;

performing, before the first tax is due, an analysis process to determine whether the first tax due for the machine can be reduced;

determining whether to move the machine to a different geographic location based on results of the analysis process to reduce the first tax; and

providing information reflecting the determination whether to move the machine to the different geographic location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first geographic location is within a first jurisdiction and performing the analysis process includes:

determining a second tax due for the machine if the machine is located in a second jurisdiction; and

determining whether to move the machine from the first jurisdiction to the second jurisdiction based on at least the first and second taxes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine is leased from a lessor for a lease term that ends on a lease end date, and the analysis process includes:

determining a party responsible for paying taxes for the machine during lease term;

determining a second tax due for the machine at the lease end date;

determining an effect on the second tax if the machine is returned to the lessor before the lease end date

generating a report based on the determined effect on the second tax; and

forwarding the report to the responsible party.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the effect on the second tax includes:

determining a return date for returning the machine to the lessor that minimizes an amount of tax due to the machine; and

providing in the report the return date and at least one of the amount of tax due for the machine or an amount of savings to the responsible party if the machine is returned to the lessor on the return date.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the different geographic location is associated with the lessor and determining whether to move the machine to the different geographic location based on results of the analysis process includes:

moving the machine from the first geographic location to the different geographic location before the lease end date.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tax rules include at least one of federal, state, and local tax rules.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the analysis process includes:

determining costs associated with moving the machine to the different geographic jurisdiction; and

comparing the costs with any tax savings attainable by moving the machine to the different geographic jurisdiction.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining costs includes at least one of:

determining productivity costs associated with a loss of usage of the machine at the first geographic location; and

determining transportation costs associated with moving the machine from the first geographic location to the different geographic location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining transportation costs includes at least one of determining a cost of fuel, distance to travel between the first and different geographic locations, and estimated traffic patterns between the first and different geographic locations;

and

wherein determining productivity costs includes at least one of work schedules of personnel who are qualified to move the machine, pay rate of personnel who are qualified to move the machine, availability of a replacement machine to replace the machine if it is moved to the different geographic location, a cost of operating the replacement machine, a cost of transporting the replacement machine to replace the machine, and a cost to a business operation including a fleet of machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis process includes:

determining costs associated with moving the machine to the different geographic location;

determining a move date for the machine that increases tax savings to a party responsible for paying the first tax based on the determined costs and the first tax due date.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing information includes:

generating a report based on the analysis process; and

providing the report to a party responsible for paying the first tax, the report including at least one of;

an indication of the first tax due on the first tax due date to be paid by the responsible party;

an indication of a second tax due on a second tax due date to be paid by the responsible party if the machine is moved to the different geographic location;

an indication of tax savings to the responsible party if the machine is moved to the different geographic location;

an indication of a move date for moving the machine to the different geographic location;

travel directions to the different geographic location; and

an indication of costs to the responsible party for moving the machine to the different location.

12. A method for assessing taxes for a fleet of machines, comprising:

determining a location of each machine within the machine fleet;

determining, for each machine in the machine fleet, an appropriate set of tax rules to determine a tax due for a respective machine based on the location of the respective machine;

determining, based on the appropriate set of tax rules, a tax due for each machine based on each machine'"'"'s location;

determining a machine fleet tax associated with all of the machines in the machine fleet based on each machine'"'"'s respective tax;

determining an effect on the machine fleet tax based on whether one or more of the machines are moved to one or more respective different locations;

determining whether to move one or more of the machines to one or more respective different locations based on the effect of the machine fleet tax; and

providing a report to a party responsible for paying the machine fleet tax, the report including results of the determining whether to move the one or more machines.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining an effect on the machine fleet tax includes:

determining, for each machine in the fleet, costs associated with moving the respective machine from its determined location to the different location;

comparing, for each machine in the fleet, the costs for moving that respective machine to any tax savings if the respective machine is moved to the different location;

determining a move plan for machines in the fleet that reduces costs to the responsible party, the move plan includes identifying machines in the fleet that if moved, provides tax savings that exceed any costs to move the machines to their respective different locations; and

providing the move plan in the report.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the machines within the fleet are leased from a lessor for a lease term for each respective machine that ends on a lease end date for each respective machine, the method further including:

determining a party responsible for paying taxes for the respective machines during their respective lease terms;

determining a second tax due for each respective machine at the lease end date for each respective machine;

determining an effect on the second tax if the machines are returned to the lessor before their respective lease end dates;

generating a report based on the determined effect on the second tax; and

forwarding the report to the responsible party.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the effect on the second tax includes:

determining a return date for returning the respective machines to the lessor that minimizes an amount of tax due to the respective machines; and

providing in the report the respective return dates aria at least one of the amount of tax due for the machines or an amount of savings to the responsible party if the machines are returned to the lessor on their respective return dates.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more respective different geographic locations are associated with the lessor and determining whether to move the machines to the one or more respective different geographic locations based on the effect of machine fleet tax includes:

moving the respective machines from the first geographic location to the one or more respective different geographic locations before their respective lease end dates.

17. A system for assessing taxes on at least one machine based on its location, comprising:

a service center configured to;

collect machine data from a machine configured to send the machine data to a remote location;

determine a first geographic location of the machine based on the machine data;

determine a first tax due for the machine based on the first geographic location and a first set of tax rules associated with the first geographic location;

perform, before the first tax is due, an analysis process to determine whether the first tax due for the machine can be reduced;

determine whether to move the machine to a different geographic location based on results of the analysis process to reduce the first tax; and

provide information reflecting the determination whether to move the machine to the different geographic location.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first geographic location is within a first jurisdiction and performing the analysis process includes:

determine a second tax due for the machine if the machine is located in a second jurisdiction; and

determine whether to move the machine from the first jurisdiction to the second jurisdiction based on at least the first and second taxes.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the machine is leased from a lessor for a lease term that ends on a lease end date, and the analysis process includes:

determine a party responsible for paying taxes for the machine during lease term;

determine a second tax due for the machine at the lease end date;

determine an effect on the second tax if the machine is returned to the lessor before the lease end date

generate a report based on the determined effect on the second tax; and

forward the report to the responsible party.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein determine the effect on the second tax includes:

determine a return date for returning the machine to the lessor that minimizes an amount of tax due to the machine; and

provide in the report the return date and at least one of the amount of tax due for the machine or an amount of savings to the responsible party if the machine is returned to the lessor on the return date.