Method and apparatus for client-specific notification service

• US 8,015,083 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intense, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, Kenneth R., Nguyen, Hiep, Irish-Duncan, Laurie A., Sterling, David N., Baines, Albert S., Huckabee, William W., Welch, Pamela R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell; Dana
• Application Number:
  US11/518,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 700/220, 705/1, 705/10, 705/19, 705/26, 705/33, 715/234
• US Class Current: 705/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/207 Tax processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

Method and apparatus for an automated, client-specific notification service for reporting return preparers. A notification mechanism may be implemented as a part or component of a return preparation program or as a separate application. The notification mechanism may generate customized notifications for clients based at least in part on the clients'"'"' previous return information, for example information from previously filed tax returns. The notification mechanism may customize both the content of the notifications and the timing of the notifications based on each client'"'"'s particular return information. The notifications generated by the notification mechanism may include or indicate any information related to the return preparation and filing process. The information in a particular notification may be tailored to the specific client'"'"'s reporting situation. The notifications may be provided to the client(s) via one or more other communications channels or mechanisms.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

generating based on an event characterized by a plurality of changes in tax law, a personalized newsletter for each of a plurality of clients by, for each change of the plurality of changes;

identifying a subject matter of the change in the tax law;

selecting with a notification mechanism, a notification rule based on the subject matter,

wherein the notification rule specifies at least one tax criterion of a plurality of tax criteria to be applied to client reporting information, and

wherein the at least one tax criterion comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of itemized deductions, type of deductions, schedule C status, rental income, charitable contribution, and child tax credits;

searching by a computer, the client reporting information according to the notification rule, wherein the client reporting information comprises previously filed reporting returns each associated with one of the plurality of clients, and wherein the previously filed reporting returns comprise the plurality of tax criterion ( );

generating by computer, a client group by selecting a subset of the plurality of clients having the previously filed reporting returns matching the at least one tax criterion;

selecting by a computer, from a collection of notification content within a computer database, content relevant to the one of the plurality of changes affecting the at least one tax criterion; and

populating with a notification by a computer, the personalized newsletter corresponding to each of the plurality of clients in the client group, wherein the notification comprises the selected content;

sending the personalized newsletter to each of the plurality of clients,

wherein the notification rule corresponding to a first change of the plurality of changes specifies at least two tax criteria of the plurality of tax criteria,

wherein the personalized newsletter for a first client of the plurality of clients comprises the notification of the first change and the notification of a second change of the plurality of changes, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the first client includes the at least two tax criteria, and

wherein the personalized newsletter for a second client of the plurality of clients excludes the notification of the first change and comprises the notification of the second change, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the second client excludes at least one of the at least two tax criteria.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the notification rule further specifies the selected content.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said client reporting information is collected from tax returns prepared for the plurality of clients using a tax preparation software program.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said client reporting information comprises one or more of Federal, State, and local tax return information for each of the plurality of clients.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said personalized newsletter is sent via an e-mail messages.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said personalized newsletter comprises a printed document for mailing.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said sending the personalized newsletter comprises one or more of emailing, mailing, and faxing the personalized newsletter to the respective identified client.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said notification comprises hyperlinks for accessing additional information relevant to the selected content.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two clients are corporate clients.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least two clients are individuals.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected content associated with a third change of the plurality of changes comprises one selected from a group consisting of a reminder of a due date for a tax return and a tax estimate for the client.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected content corresponding to a third change of the plurality of changes comprises information related to a change in tax status, due to the third change in tax law, that affects the client.

13. A system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory comprises program instructions executable by the one or more processors to;

generate, based on an event characterized by a plurality of changes in tax law, a personalized newsletter for each of a plurality of clients by, for each change of the plurality of changes;

identifying a subject matter of the change in the tax law;

selecting a notification rule based on the subject matter,

wherein the notification rule specifies at least one tax criterion of a plurality of tax criteria to be applied to client reporting information, and

wherein the at least one tax criterion comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of itemized deductions, type of deductions, schedule C status, rental income, charitable contribution, and child tax credits;

searching the client reporting information according to the notification rule, wherein the client reporting information comprises previously filed reporting returns each associated with one of the plurality of clients, wherein the previously filed reporting returns comprise the plurality of tax criterion;

generating a client group by selecting a subset of the plurality of clients having the previously filed reporting returns matching the at least one tax criterion;

selecting, from a collection of notification content, content relevant to the one of the plurality of changes affecting the at least one common tax criterion; and

populating, with a notification, the personalized newsletter corresponding to each of the plurality of clients in the client group, wherein the notification comprises the selected content; and

send the personalized newsletter to each of the plurality of clients,

wherein the notification rule corresponding to a first change of the plurality of changes specifies at least two tax criteria of the plurality of tax criteria,

wherein the personalized newsletter for a first client of the plurality of clients comprises the notification of the first change and the notification of a second change of the plurality of changes, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the first client includes the at least two tax criteria, and

wherein the personalized newsletter for a second client of the plurality of clients excludes the notification of the first change and comprises the notification of the second change, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the second client excludes at least one of the at least two tax criteria.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification rule further specifies the selected content.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the personalized newsletter comprises hyperlinks for accessing additional information relevant to the selected content of the notifications.

16. A tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

generating, based on an event characterized by a plurality of changes in tax law, a personalized newsletter for each of a plurality of clients by, for each change of the plurality of changes;

identifying a subject matter of the change in the tax law;

selecting a notification rule based on the subject matter,

wherein the notification rule specifies at least one tax criterion of a plurality of tax criteria to be applied to client reporting information, and

wherein the at least one tax criterion comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of itemized deductions, type of deductions, schedule C status, rental income, charitable contribution, and child tax credits;

searching the client reporting information according to the notification rule, wherein the client reporting information comprises previously filed reporting returns each associated with one of the plurality of clients, and wherein the previously filed reporting returns comprise the plurality of tax criterion;

generating a client group by selecting a subset of the plurality of clients having the previously filed reporting returns matching the at least one tax criterion;

selecting, from a collection of notification content, content relevant to the one of the plurality of changes affecting the at least one tax criterion; and

populating, with a notification, the personalized newsletter corresponding to each of the plurality of clients in the client group, wherein the notification comprises the selected content; and

sending the personalized newsletter to each of the plurality of clients,

wherein the notification rule corresponding to a first change of the plurality of changes specifies at least two tax criteria of the plurality of tax criteria,

wherein the personalized newsletter for a first client of the plurality of clients comprises the notification of the first change and the notification of a second change of the plurality of changes, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the first client includes the at least two tax criteria, and

wherein the personalized newsletter for a second client of the plurality of clients excludes the notification of the first change and comprises the notification of the second change, wherein the previously filed reporting returns of the second client excludes at least one of the at least two tax criteria.

17. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the notification rule further specifies the selected content.

18. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the personalized newsletter comprises hyperlinks for accessing additional information relevant to the selected content of the notifications.