Efficient work flow system and method for preparing tax returns
First Claim
1. A processor-based method for preparing a tax return comprising:
- receiving, at a first computer operated by a tax provider, an image file that includes a plurality of data values;
associating, at the first computer, the image file with an electronic tax return document having a first tax form and a second tax form;
submitting, at the first computer, the image file and the first and second tax forms to an electronic queue;
retrieving, at a second computer operated by a referencer, the image file from the electronic queue;
placing a reference adjacent to at least one of the plurality of data values of the image file using the second computer;
submitting the referenced image file to the electronic queue;
retrieving, at a third computer operated by a first service provider, the referenced image file and the first tax form from the electronic queue;
retrieving, at a fourth computer operated by a second service provider, the referenced image file and the second tax form from the electronic queue;
populating the first tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the third computer;
populating the second tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the fourth computer;
allowing the first service provider operating the third computer to populate the first tax form with data values from the image file and the second service provider operating the fourth computer to populate the second tax form with data values from the image file simultaneously; and
preparing, at the first computer, a single tax return by merging the populated first and second tax forms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A processor-based method for preparing a tax return using multiple service providers. The method includes receiving at a first service provider an image file that includes a plurality of data values and assigning at the first service provider the image file to a form having a plurality of predefined field names, wherein each of the plurality data values belong to one of the plurality of predefined field names. The method also includes receiving at a second service provider the image file and an input form having a plurality of input fields corresponding to the plurality of predefined field names and associating at the second service provider the plurality of data values from the image file with the plurality of input fields.
115 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A processor-based method for preparing a tax return comprising:
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receiving, at a first computer operated by a tax provider, an image file that includes a plurality of data values; associating, at the first computer, the image file with an electronic tax return document having a first tax form and a second tax form; submitting, at the first computer, the image file and the first and second tax forms to an electronic queue; retrieving, at a second computer operated by a referencer, the image file from the electronic queue; placing a reference adjacent to at least one of the plurality of data values of the image file using the second computer; submitting the referenced image file to the electronic queue; retrieving, at a third computer operated by a first service provider, the referenced image file and the first tax form from the electronic queue; retrieving, at a fourth computer operated by a second service provider, the referenced image file and the second tax form from the electronic queue; populating the first tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the third computer; populating the second tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the fourth computer; allowing the first service provider operating the third computer to populate the first tax form with data values from the image file and the second service provider operating the fourth computer to populate the second tax form with data values from the image file simultaneously; and preparing, at the first computer, a single tax return by merging the populated first and second tax forms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A processor-based method for preparing a tax return using multiple service providers comprising:
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receiving, at a first computer operated by a tax provider, an image file that includes a plurality of data values; associating, at the first computer, the image file with an electronic tax return document having a first tax form and a second tax form; assigning, at the first computer, the image file and the first tax form to a first service provider, the first service provider configured to only populate the first tax form; assigning, at the first computer, the image file and the second tax form to a second service provider, the second service provider configured to only populate the second tax form; submitting the first tax form and the second tax form to an electronic queue; retrieving, at a second computer operated by a referencer, the image file from the electronic queue; placing a reference adjacent to at least one of the plurality of data values of the image file using the second computer; submitting the referenced image file to the electronic queue; retrieving, by a third computer operated by the first service provider, the first tax form from the electronic queue; retrieving, by a fourth computer operated by the second service provider, the second tax form from the electronic queue; populating the first tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the third computer; populating the second tax form with the at least one of the plurality of data values of the referenced image file associated with the reference using the fourth computer; allowing the first service provider operating the third computer to populate the first tax form with data values from the image file and the second service provider operating the fourth computer to populate the second tax form with data values from the image file simultaneously; and preparing, at the first computer, a single tax return by merging the populated first and second tax forms. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification