SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND METHOD FOR ONLINE, REAL-TIME DELIVERY OF CONSUMER TAX SERVICES
First Claim
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 includinga 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, anda 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 includinga 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, anda 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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.
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Specification