Instant tax return preparation

US8204805B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intuit Inc. · US

Inventors

• Amir Eftekhari · San Diego, US
• Erikheath A. Thomas · San Diego, US
• Carol Ann Howe · San Diego, US
• George Thomas Ericksen · San Diego, US
• Gerald B. Huff · Berkeley, US
• Gang Wang · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2010
• Grant date: Jun 19, 2012
• Expiry date: Feb 9, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q40/123
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method involves generating a partially completed tax return based on basic user information without needing to obtain other user inputs through an extensive user interview. A list of simple and concise interview questions are generated or selected from an interview question collection based on the partially completed tax return to finalize the tax return. The method further involves using an inference engine to allow data collection at any time and in any order via specific, personalized questions geared toward completion of the tax return. Therefore the taxpayer spends time reviewing rather than preparing his or her tax documents.