SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND METHOD FOR ONLINE, REAL-TIME DELIVERY OF CONSUMER TAX SERVICES

• US 20120084185A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HRB Tax Group Incorporated (H&R Block, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HRB Tax Group Incorporated (H&R Block, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Neal, Ciaramitaro, Mark, Meade, Kenneth Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,249,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

A system, a method, and a computer program for performing an online, real-time tax consultation for preparation of a client'"'"'s taxes by a tax agent, wherein the tax agent is remote from the client, and the system is implemented via an electronic, online application accessible via a communications network. Embodiments allow for a client desiring tax preparation of a tax return to initiate the tax preparation with a tax agent via an online, integrated platform; electronically upload or otherwise push the client'"'"'s tax-related information and documents to the tax agent; participate in an online tax consultation so that the tax agent may investigate, learn, or otherwise obtain the tax information necessary for completing the client'"'"'s tax return; and electronically approve and file the completed tax return.

Claims

1. A system for an online, real-time tax consultation for preparation of a client'"'"'s taxes by a tax agent, wherein the tax agent is remote from the client, and the system is implemented via an electronic, online application accessible via a communications network, the system comprising:

a start-up module including

a registration interface for receipt of minimal registration information from the client, wherein the client inputs the registration information electronically into the registration interface in response to one or more prompts from the registration interface for the registration information, and

a scheduler interface for allowing the client to locate a tax agent for preparation of the client'"'"'s taxes, wherein the scheduler interface locates tax agents based on criteria specific to the client'"'"'s tax needs;

a tax consultation module for allowing the online, real-time tax consultation between the client and the tax agent, the tax consultation module including

a multi-communication feed including an electronic chat interface for communication between the client and the tax agent during the tax consultation and via written word, and

a conferencing feed for allowing the tax agent and the client to communicate via at least one of video and audio;

a client module for presenting a client view for display to and viewing by the client, the client module including a tax information portal that includes at least one prompt for requesting the client to enter tax-related personal information;

a shared information module for electronic uploading of tax-related documents by the client for review by the tax agent and for review of tax forms by the client,

said shared information module including a listing for review by the client of common tax-related documents,

said shared information module further operable to electronically source tax-related information from the uploaded tax-related document and use the sourced tax-related information for completion of one or more tax forms;

a tax agent module for presenting a tax agent view for display to and viewing by the tax agent, the tax agent module including a document review interface for allowing the tax agent to review, organize, and annotate said uploaded tax-related documents, wherein the document review interface further allows the tax agent to post to the shared information module at least partially completed tax forms for review by the client prior to filing said tax forms with a government taxing authority,

a tax completion module for receiving an electronic signature of the client, and for electronically submitting at least one of the tax forms to said government taxing authority.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the minimal registration information includes location information for the client and information for determining an expertise required of a tax agent to be partnered with the client.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the criteria for the location of a tax agent specific to the client'"'"'s needs includes a geographical location of the tax agent relative to the client and the expertise of the tax agent.

4. The system of claim 3, the scheduler interface including the following:

an option for selection by the client of tax agents immediately available and located within a preset geographical proximity to the client,

an option for selection by the client of tax agents with whom an appointment can be made, and

an option for selection by the client of a specific tax agent desired by the client.

5. The system of claim 4, the scheduler interface including the following:

a profile module for viewing by the client of the profile or expertise for a particular tax agent, and

a sorting module for sorting the tax agents based on the options selected by the client.

6. The system of claim 1, the start-up module further including an account creation interface accessible by the client and for inputting of client information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the client module further presents for display to and viewing by the client at least a portion of the multi-communication feed and the conferencing feed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-communication feed is searchable based on text or date of a particular communication in the multi-communication feed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said conferencing feed includes an audio only connection.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the client module further includes a task list viewable by the client in the client view, the task list including an option for allowing the client to change a client account setting and an option to access said tax-related documents and tax forms.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the task list is automatically updated by the system upon completion of a particular task.

12. The system of claim 1, the client module further operable to send a notification to the client upon the tax agent requesting such, wherein said notification is selected from the group consisting of:

e-mail or text.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared information module is further operable to electronically receive the tax-related information for the client from a financial institution associated with the client.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the client can access the shared information module to review the tax-related documents, the tax forms, and any other documents generated by the system.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared information module allows for the tax agent to control the client'"'"'s view of the tax-related document and highlight points of interest on the tax-related document.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the tax agent can annotate said tax-related documents in real-time during the tax consultation for viewing of said annotations by the client via the client module.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the client may submit payment for the tax consultation via the tax completion module.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is operable to store the tax-related documents and tax forms for accessing by the client or the tax agent at a time subsequent to the tax consultation.

19. A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing an online, real-time tax consultation for preparation of a client'"'"'s taxes by a tax agent, wherein the tax agent is remote from the client, the computer program operable to perform the following steps:

receive minimal client registration information from the client;

receive schedule preferences from the client for locating a tax agent who will prepare the client'"'"'s tax return, wherein said schedule preferences account for criteria specific to the client'"'"'s tax needs;

establish an online, real-time tax consultation with the client, wherein the tax consultation is held electronically between the client and the tax agent;

establish a multi-communication feed between the client and the tax agent, wherein the multi-communication feed includes an electronic chat interface;

establish a conferencing feed between the client and the tax agent for allowing the client and tax agent to communicate via at least one of video and audio;

provide a client view for display to and viewing by the client;

receive tax-related personal information from the client in response to a prompt for said information;

provide to the client a listing of common tax-related documents;

receive at least one tax-related document from the client, wherein the document is uploaded by the client;

provide a tax agent view for display to and viewing by the tax agent;

provide a document review interface for allowing the tax agent to review, organize, and annotate said at least one uploaded tax-related document;

provide for the client to review one or more tax forms prepared by the tax agent;

receive an electronic signature of the client; and

electronically submit at least one of the one or more tax forms to a government taxing authority.

20. A method for performing an online, real-time tax consultation for preparation of a client'"'"'s taxes by a tax agent, wherein the tax agent is remote from the client, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving minimal client registration information from the client;

receiving schedule preferences from the client for locating a tax agent who will prepare the client'"'"'s tax return, wherein said schedule preferences account for criteria specific to the client'"'"'s tax needs;

establishing an online, real-time tax consultation with the client, wherein the tax consultation is held electronically between the client and the tax agent;

establishing a multi-communication feed between the client and the tax agent, wherein the multi-communication feed includes an electronic chat interface;

establishing a conferencing feed between the client and the tax agent for allowing the client and tax agent to communicate via at least one of video and audio;

providing a client view for display to and viewing by the client;

receiving tax-related personal information from the client in response to a prompt for said information;

providing to the client a listing of common tax-related documents;

receiving at least one tax-related document from the client, wherein the document is uploaded by the client;

providing a tax agent view for display to and viewing by the tax agent;

providing a document review interface for allowing the tax agent to review, organize, and annotate said at least one uploaded tax-related document;

providing for the client to review one or more tax forms prepared by the tax agent;

receiving an electronic signature of the client; and

electronically submitting at least one of the one or more tax forms to a government taxing authority.