System and method for preparing a tax return using electronically distributed tax return data
First Claim
1. A computerized method for preparing a tax return comprising:
- obtaining a first authorization from a taxpayer to prepare said tax return;
obtaining a second authorization from said taxpayer to monitor for availability of electronically distributed tax return data on a third party computer;
receiving from said taxpayer location information for accessing said electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer;
receiving from said taxpayer access procedure information for accessing said electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer;
receiving at a computer said location information;
initiating at said computer an operation in which said computer automatically periodically checks availability of said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer using said taxpayer location information;
in response to automatically checking at said computer, notifying a tax preparer of availability of said electronically distributed tax return data;
receiving at said computer from said tax preparer a request to access said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer using said location and access procedure information;
providing said tax preparer with access to said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer;
receiving at said computer for manual entry in a tax preparation system tax return data from said electronically distributed tax return data; and
preparing a tax return at said computer using said manually entered tax return data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a system and method for preparing a tax return using electronically distributed tax return data. Electronically distributed tax return data (such as W-2 data or 1099 data) that is stored at a third party'"'"'s computer system for a taxpayer is accessed to prepare the tax return. The location of the electronically distributed tax return data is provided to a tax preparer that accesses the electronic data and prepares the tax return. The taxpayer provides authorization for the tax preparer to access the electronically distributed tax return data stored at the third party system. After the current tax year, the tax preparer checks the availability of the electronically distributed tax return data. When the electronically distributed tax return data is determined to be available, the tax preparer accesses it and prepares the tax return.
123 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A computerized method for preparing a tax return comprising:
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obtaining a first authorization from a taxpayer to prepare said tax return; obtaining a second authorization from said taxpayer to monitor for availability of electronically distributed tax return data on a third party computer; receiving from said taxpayer location information for accessing said electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer; receiving from said taxpayer access procedure information for accessing said electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer; receiving at a computer said location information; initiating at said computer an operation in which said computer automatically periodically checks availability of said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer using said taxpayer location information; in response to automatically checking at said computer, notifying a tax preparer of availability of said electronically distributed tax return data; receiving at said computer from said tax preparer a request to access said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer using said location and access procedure information; providing said tax preparer with access to said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer; receiving at said computer for manual entry in a tax preparation system tax return data from said electronically distributed tax return data; and preparing a tax return at said computer using said manually entered tax return data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computerized method for preparing a tax return for a prior tax year comprising:
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obtaining authorization from a taxpayer to prepare a tax return for a current tax year; obtaining authorization from said taxpayer to monitor for availability of electronically distributed tax return data on a third party computer; receiving from said taxpayer location information for accessing electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer for said current tax year; receiving from said taxpayer access procedure information for accessing said electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer; receiving at a computer said location information; initiating at said computer an operation in which said computer automatically periodically checks availability of said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer using said taxpayer location information; obtaining authorization from said taxpayer to prepare a tax return for said prior tax year if electronically distributed tax return data for said prior tax year is available at said third party computer; receiving at said computer from a tax preparer a request to access said electronically distributed tax return data at said third party computer for said prior tax year using said location and access procedure information; receiving at said computer for manual entry in a tax preparation system tax return data for said prior tax year; and preparing said tax return for said prior tax year using said manually entered tax return data for said prior tax year. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computerized method for preparing a tax return comprising:
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obtaining prior to the end of a current tax year authorization from a taxpayer to prepare a tax return for said current tax year; obtaining authorization from said taxpayer to monitor for availability of electronically distributed tax return data on a third party computer; receiving from said taxpayer location information for accessing electronically distributed tax return data for said taxpayer; receiving at a computer said location information; initiating at said computer an operation in which said computer automatically periodically checks after said current tax year availability of electronically distributed tax return data for said current tax year at said third party computer using said taxpayer location information; receiving at said computer from a tax preparer a request to access said electronically distributed tax return data for said current tax year at said third party computer when said electronically distributed tax return data for said current tax year is determined automatically to be available; receiving at said computer for manual entry in a tax preparation system tax return data from said electronically distributed tax return data; and preparing said tax return for said current tax year using said tax preparation system at said computer and said manually entered tax return data from said electronically distributed tax return data for said current tax year. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification