Tax Processing Patents (Class 705/19)
  • Patent number: 11928744
    Abstract: A service engine determines whether there is a potential lack of transaction tax compliance in a plurality of jurisdictions for a plurality of entities. The service engine generates and/or transmits tax compliance data which may include information about potential lack of tax compliance of an entity in various jurisdictions based on rules about establishing nexus for purposes of remitting transaction tax in the jurisdictions. The tax compliance data may include a notification about the generation of the information, such as a notification to the entity that there exists a potential lack of tax compliance of that entity in specific jurisdictions. The service engine may update the tax compliance data dynamically and send corresponding notifications, automatically in real time or near real time for the applicable entity as sales of the entity change and/or rules for establishing nexus change for various jurisdictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Avalara, Inc.
    Inventors: Seth Therrien, Jonathan Parramore, Sujoy Paul, Trevor Thomas, Kelly Woznicki, Jacob Wallace Bixby, Kevin Robert Halverson
  • Patent number: 11853302
    Abstract: A particular option selection may be provided by an online service platform (OSP) to a client regarding one or more predefined services that the OSP can be configured to perform. These may include automatic activities option selection(s) that may trigger the OSP to automatically start one or more activities upon one or more thresholds being crossed. The OSP may apply digital rules to the dataset(s) of the client to determine whether or not to automatically start or stop activities, including producing respective resources, upon a threshold being crossed, to determine a requested resource and then push, send, or otherwise cause to be transmitted a notification regarding the produced resource or other activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Nikki Nash, Gregory T. Kavounas, Stefan Kim, Aaron Lee Robles, Robert Erdman, Mark Alan Withers, Tim Diekmann
  • Patent number: 11829975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for allowing users to categorize transactions at moment-of-sale using mobile payments. The method includes detecting a transaction performed on a mobile device. The method further includes prompting, a user of the mobile device to provide a categorization of the transaction as a business transaction or a personal transaction, where the transaction is categorized by the user contemporaneously with the transaction being detected by the FMA interface. The method further includes receiving the transaction and the categorization of the transaction from the user. The method further includes sending the FMA time stamp of the transaction with the categorization as the business transaction, Finally, the method includes matching the FMA time stamp of the business transaction to a financial institution time stamp of a pending transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Fischer, Rebecca Gilbert, Jon Fasoli
  • Patent number: 11763283
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes one or more computers configured to implement by executing instructions on one or more processors a platform-agnostic transaction-related communication system. The transaction-related communication system includes one or more receiving modules for receiving a first item of financial transaction information from a customer-facing interface, and receiving a second item of financial transaction information from a merchant-facing point-of-sale interface. In some embodiments, the transaction-related communication system includes a point of sale server for rendering in a common internal format the first item of financial transaction information from the customer-facing interface, and rendering in the common internal format the second item of financial transaction information from the merchant-facing point-of-sale interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Worldpay US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nish Modi, George Cowsar, Oleksii Skutarenko
  • Patent number: 11544799
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for facilitating interactions between a taxpayer and a tax preparer. The system includes a taxpayer client device configured to provide a graphical user interface to a user for receiving and displaying data in a consistent manner. The system also includes a signature unit configured to receive taxpayer signature data from the taxpayer client device via the graphical user interface. The system also includes a document upload unit configured to receive tax document data from the taxpayer client device via the graphical user interface. The system also includes a secure messaging unit configured to facilitate securely exchanging messages between devices. The system also includes an E-File authorization unit configured to receive taxpayer E-File authorization data from the taxpayer client device via the graphical user interface. The system also includes a payment unit configured to receive payment data from the taxpayer client device via the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: SUREPREP, LLC
    Inventors: David Wyle, Sarika Arora
  • Patent number: 11494356
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to the distribution of database key permissions. A database system may distribute first permission information to a plurality of database nodes that identifies a distribution of key range permissions to ones of the plurality of database nodes. A given key range permission being distributed to a given database node may permit that database node to write records whose keys fall within a key range associated with the given key range permission. The database system may receive, from a first database node, a request for a first key range permission provisioned to a second database node. The database system may modify the first permission information to derive second permission information that provisions the first key range permission to the first database node instead of the second database node. The database system may distribute the second permission information to ones of the plurality of database nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James Helland
  • Patent number: 11468421
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to generating and obtaining multiple exemption certificates for multiple sellers in a single transaction, and methods and systems for performing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: AVALARA, INC.
    Inventor: Michael J. Maselli
  • Patent number: 11436583
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes one or more computers configured to implement by executing instructions on one or more processors a platform-agnostic transaction-related communication system. The transaction-related communication system includes one or more receiving modules for receiving a first item of financial transaction information from a customer-facing interface, and receiving a second item of financial transaction information from a merchant-facing point-of-sale interface. In some embodiments, the transaction-related communication system includes a point of sale server for rendering in a common internal format the first item of financial transaction information from the customer-facing interface, and rendering in the common internal format the second item of financial transaction information from the merchant-facing point-of-sale interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Worldpay US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nish Modi, George Cowsar, Oleksii Skutarenko
  • Patent number: 11216432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium, and method for querying big data and displaying the results of the query. A multilevel hierarchy of data structures is associated with a particular date to reduce the linearity of the search. The client receiving the query results stores the results in a linked list with a record format consistent with the resulting records. The client also periodically refreshes a graphical user interface with the query results until all the results are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Menashe Cohen
  • Patent number: 11195235
    Abstract: Described is identifying entities based at least in part on the location of a user device. A server or the user device will determine the location of the user device and/or whether there are any beacons, such as proximity beacons, in the vicinity. The server or the user device will then determine where the user is and if there are any identifiable entities within a certain distance to that location. In performing these steps, the server and/or the user device may access a database for the geographical area. The user device will then receive information related to a function as indicated by the user, such as the facilitation of a donation, a non-obligated payment, or an obligated payment to the entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HRB Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Acosta, Daniel D. Martin
  • Patent number: 11195236
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for analyzing past year tax data for a taxpayer and determining an estimated current year tax liability in order to compute estimated tax payments. The tax preparation system comprises a tax estimate engine configured to access a plurality of calculated past year tax calculation graphs. The tax estimate engine analyzes and compares the calculated past year tax calculation graphs to determine similar node(s) and/or dissimilar node(s) and also determines a similar node estimating value for the similar nodes and/or a dissimilar node estimating value for the dissimilar nodes. A tax calculation engine calculates a current year tax calculation graph using the similar node estimating values and/or dissimilar node estimating values. The calculated current year tax calculation graph includes an estimated tax liability for the current year, which the system uses to compute estimated tax payments for the taxpayer for the current tax year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Kevin M. McCluskey, David A. Hanekamp, Jr., Luis F. Cabrera, Per-Kristian Halvorsen
  • Patent number: 11182862
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing sales tax information. The information may be generated, for example, in connection with transactions involving financial accounts, such as a credit card account. The sales tax information may be received electronically from, for example, a merchant or a point of sale device. A determination may be made whether there is any missing sales tax information. If there is missing information a request may be generated and sent to a source having the information. The source may receive the request, retrieve the desired information, and transmit it to the requesting entity. The sales tax information may be stored and later retrieved for presentation to a user, such as the account holder. The account holder may use the information in completing a tax return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: CAPITAL ONE SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Fox, Robert W. Gregory, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11138675
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for preparing an electronic tax return in which a supporting document is associated with a specific form field of the tax return and attached to the tax return. The system displays a tax data input screen for a user to input tax data for a current form field of the tax return being worked on. The system determines that a supporting document is required for the current form field and displays an attach document command. When a user selects the command, the system displays a file selection function. The system receives a selection of a document file selected using the file selection function and automatically associates the selected document file with the current form field and uses metadata related to the form field to assign a document description to the selected document file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Matheus W. Jonkers, James Dailey, Steven Keith Palmer
  • Patent number: 11087410
    Abstract: A system for facilitating user interaction with a tax return preparation program includes a completion graph parser configured to identify a portion of a tax return completion graph corresponding to a tax topic. The system also includes a query object creator configured to analyze and assign a node in the portion as a query object property. The system further includes a natural language synthesis engine configured to map the property to a first natural language question. Moreover, the system includes a natural language analysis engine configured to analyze user input and to identify a characteristic that maps to the property based on the user input. In addition, the system includes a runner interface configured to modify the query object based on the characteristic, update the tax return completion graph based on the modified query object, and analyze the updated tax return completion graph to determine whether it is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Paul F. Hubbard, Tyler Thomas Krupicka, Andrew Scott Jeddeloh, Nankun Huang, Amir R. Eftekhari
  • Patent number: 10977746
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, system and computer program products for determining what to present to a user of a tax preparation application. A tax compliance or rule module receives runtime data of the electronic tax return and tax rules specifying tax authority requirements. The rule module executes at least one tax rule utilizing the runtime data to generate a non-binding suggestion, which is provided as an input to loosely coupled interface controller. The interface controller determines content of an interview screen for display to the user based at least in part upon factors including the non-binding suggestion, and presents the interview screen including the determined content to the user via a user interface. The content may or may not include content based on the non-binding suggestion depending on processing by the interface controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Kevin M. McCluskey, Alex G. Balazs, Matthew A. Lisowski
  • Patent number: 10915972
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, articles of manufacture and computerized systems for identifying or alerting a user of certain data in electronic tax returns. A computerized tax return preparation system including a tax return preparation software application executed by a computing device receives first and second tax data and populates respective fields of the electronic tax return. The system executes a predictive model such as logistic regression, naive bayes, K-means clustering, clustering, k-nearest neighbor, and neural networks. First tax data is an input into the predictive model, which generates an output, which is compared with second tax data. An alert is generated when the second tax data does not satisfy pre-determined criteria relative to the first output generated by the predictive model. The same or other predictive model may be used as additional tax data is received for subsequent tax data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Goldman, Massimo Mascaro, William T. Laaser
  • Patent number: 10909591
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes techniques pertaining to computer implemented systems and methods for dynamic information processing. In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a computer-implemented method comprising receiving, in a software defined network, configuration information comprising one or more category codes and at least one location code corresponding to one or more transactions on the software defined network and receiving electronic documents having the same and different data fields. The configuration information is used to identify location specific mapping operators to transform input data to output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Christopher Chase, Vijay Chandramouli, Xiangqun Hu, Pallav Gurha, Samiran Saha
  • Patent number: 10878393
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system includes one or more computers configured to implement by executing instructions on one or more processors a platform-agnostic transaction-related communication system. The transaction-related communication system includes one or more receiving modules for receiving a first item of financial transaction information from a customer-facing interface, and receiving a second item of financial transaction information from a merchant-facing point-of-sale interface. In some embodiments, the transaction-related communication system includes a point of sale server for rendering in a common internal format the first item of financial transaction information from the customer-facing interface, and rendering in the common internal format the second item of financial transaction information from the merchant-facing point-of-sale interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Worldpay US, Inc.
    Inventors: Nish Modi, George Cowsar, Oleksii Skutarenko
  • Patent number: 10867355
    Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for populating an electronic tax return with assumption data and managing assumption data. A user interface controller in communication with a logic agent and a data store shared with the logic agent receives user data, selects a configuration file based at least in part upon the user data, reads or executes the selected configuration file to determine assumption data of the configuration file or to identify assumption data in an electronic data source. The assumption data is written by the user interface controller to the data store so that it can be read by the logic agent, which generates a non-binding suggestion regarding a question or tax topic that the user interface controller may present to the user based at least in part upon the assumption data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Kevin M. McCluskey, Luis F. Cabrera
  • Patent number: 10825104
    Abstract: Financial transaction data is obtained and integrated into a personal financial management and bill payment system. Payment method data associated with the financial transaction data is obtained from the personal financial management and bill payment system. The payment method data is then used to more accurately and automatically identify tax related financial transactions for processing as tax related financial transactions having tax ramifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Elangovan Shanmugam, Sean McCluskey, Jesse Aaron Axelowitz, Ashwin Singh Khurana, Michael J. Seilnacht
  • Patent number: 10776884
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing waste services. The system may have a provider portal, a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of a service vehicle, and a central processing unit in communication with the provider portal and the locating device. The central processing unit may be configured to determine a total amount of fuel consumed by the service vehicle and to determine, based at least in part on the location signal, a portion of the total amount of fuel consumed by the service vehicle when the service vehicle is not traveling on public roadways. The central processing unit may be further configured to cause an indication of the portion of the total amount of fuel to be displayed on the provider portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Rubicon Global Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Philip Rodoni
  • Patent number: 10769611
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a location based system and method for calculating sales and use tax for non-traditional points of sale. The methods and systems include a mobile application, a non-transitory computer readable medium for calculating sales and use tax for businesses that do not have a human readable address. Methods and systems for calculating a transactional tax for a mobile app whereby the mobile app is taxed based upon the location of the mobile device or place of first use of the mobile app, rather than where the mobile device was purchased or where it originates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: GEOINVOICE, INC.
    Inventor: Susette M. McNeel
  • Patent number: 10636100
    Abstract: A method and system for predicting a likelihood of success of a potential value-added tax (VAT) reclaim are provided. The method includes receiving at least one VAT receipt; analyzing the at least one VAT receipt; retrieving information respective of likelihood of success respective of the VAT receipt analysis; and determining the likelihood of success of the potential VAT reclaim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: VatBox, Ltd.
    Inventors: Isaac Saft, Noam Guzman
  • Patent number: 10580088
    Abstract: The invention provides various methods and systems for collecting and allocating road use fees. The invention may include receiving funds from a party, wherein the party is responsible for operation of a vehicle. Data indicating where the vehicle has traveled may be received by a computer system. A jurisdiction may be identified where road use fees are due based on where the vehicle has traveled. Fees due to the jurisdiction may be calculated based on the jurisdiction's road use fee schedule. The fee due for road use may be deducted from an account of the vehicle's operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Western Union Company
    Inventors: Garry Tonnon, David A. Owen
  • Patent number: 10482542
    Abstract: Determining whether a subject tax return is fraudulent includes extracting from the subject tax return information and identifying one or more subject nodes based on the extracted information. Separately, a plurality of external nodes is generated based upon previously filed tax returns. At least a portion of the plurality of external nodes is fraud-indicative nodes. The subject nodes are compared to the external nodes to identify shared relationships of related information, such as a tax return related to an external node having the same bank account information as the subject tax return related to the subject node. Based upon shared information, links are determined to indicate whether the subject node is indicative of fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HRB Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajiv Jain
  • Patent number: 10402913
    Abstract: A hybrid response mechanism for processing queries submitted through an interview screen of a tax preparation application. User submits query through search field of interview screen generated by tax preparation application. Response engine accesses runtime data of electronic tax return stored in data store and generates hybrid response including runtime data and an action. Hybrid response data may be alpha/numerical runtime data or data identifying runtime data and identifying or including a link to an action, e.g., a form to be completed or revised, or to prepare a new form. The hybrid search result can also include a result (such as reference materials, e.g., information about tax topics or an answer provided by an on-line community member) generated by an external computing resource such as an online community for the tax preparation application also processing the query but that is not included in the electronic tax return being prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Luis F. Cabrera, Kevin M. McCluskey, Ronald Jason Char, David S. Chon
  • Patent number: 10387970
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for performing a comparison of tax results based on different sets of tax data, and generating an explanation as to why the tax results differ or do not differ due to the differences in the tax data. The system includes a computing device, a data store in communication with the computing device and a tax preparation software application executable by the computing device. The tax preparation software application has a tax calculation engine, a tax calculation graph, and a change analysis engine. The tax calculation engine is configured to perform a plurality of tax calculation operations based on the tax calculation graph. The change analysis engine is configured to determine whether tax results based on different tax data differ or do not differ. The system may also generate explanation(s) of the reasons that the tax results differ or do not differ due to the different tax data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Kevin M. McCluskey, David A. Hanekamp, Jr., Luis F. Cabrera, Michael A. Artamonov
  • Patent number: 10380587
    Abstract: A disbursement computing device for transmitting disbursements from a payor to a payee through a payment processing network is provided. The disbursement computing device is configured to receive a disbursement message including at least one disbursement payment instruction for transferring funds from a commercial disbursement financial account of a payor to a financial account of a payee. The disbursement computing device is also configured to automatically transmit, for each disbursement payment instruction, a purchase authorization request message to an issuer bank associated with the payor, and receive a payment authorization message from the issuer bank associated with the payor that the commercial disbursement financial account has a balance that is at least equal to a disbursement amount. The disbursement computing device is further configured to initiate a transfer of funds equal to the disbursement amount from the financial account of the payor to the financial account of the payee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Deborah M. Kimberg, Shari Krikorian, Rodney A. Robinson
  • Patent number: 10360559
    Abstract: Electronic transaction data sets are processed for a multitude of disparate transactions using a plurality of autonomous networks. Circuitry receives and processes electronic transaction data to identify a user via information provided in the transaction data, and uses the identification to access profile information for selecting one of a plurality of networks. In this context, a user can be identified using one of a plurality of identification approaches (e.g., different account IDs), and such identification can be used for retrieving and using electronic profile data to select a transaction network for the user, which may be completely independent from the identification. Data is accordingly configured so that the selected network can receive and process the data, such as by configuring the data into a network-specific format and/or communicating the data using network-specific protocols. The configured data is transmitted to the selected network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: U.S. Bank National Association
    Inventor: Mark Dickelman
  • Patent number: 10318964
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for detecting entity migration. A method is provided for receiving container information for all known addresses in the United States. The container information can include address records, person or business entities associated with the address records, and temporal information associating the entities with the address records. The method includes determining, with one or more special-purpose computer processors in communication with a memory, migration data based on the container information. The method includes extracting metrics from the migration data. The metrics can include velocity of migration data; simultaneous movement of individuals within a predetermined time period; distance moved; and/or age of the person or business entities. The method can include determining, based at least in part on outliers associated with the metrics, one or more indicators of fraud; and outputting, for display, the one or more indicators of the fraud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: LexisNexis Risk Solutions FL Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse C P B Shaw, Johannes Philippus de Villiers Prichard, Eric Blood, Andrew John Bucholz
  • Patent number: 10235722
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for analyzing past year tax data for a taxpayer and determining an estimated current year tax liability in order to compute estimated tax payments. The tax preparation system comprises a tax estimate engine configured to access a plurality of calculated past year tax calculation graphs. The tax estimate engine analyzes and compares the calculated past year tax calculation graphs to determine similar node(s) and/or dissimilar node(s) and also determines a similar node estimating value for the similar nodes and/or a dissimilar node estimating value for the dissimilar nodes. A tax calculation engine calculates a current year tax calculation graph using the similar node estimating values and/or dissimilar node estimating values. The calculated current year tax calculation graph includes an estimated tax liability for the current year, which the system uses to compute estimated tax payments for the taxpayer for the current tax year.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Kevin M. McCluskey, David A. Hanekamp, Jr., Luis F. Cabrera, Per-Kristian Halvorsen
  • Patent number: 10147060
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for managing waste services. The system may have a provider portal, a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of a service vehicle, and a central processing unit in communication with the provider portal and the locating device. The central processing unit may be configured to determine a total amount of fuel consumed by the service vehicle and to determine, based at least in part on the location signal, a portion of the total amount of fuel consumed by the service vehicle when the service vehicle is not traveling on public roadways. The central processing unit may be further configured to cause an indication of the portion of the total amount of fuel to be displayed on the provider portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: RUBICON GLOBAL HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Philip Rodoni
  • Patent number: 10096072
    Abstract: A method and system include reducing a presentation of less-relevant questions to a user of a tax return preparation system to personalize a tax return preparation interview process for the user, according to one embodiment. The method and system include providing a number user experience elements to a user to select from, according to one embodiment. The method and system include receiving selected ones of the number of user experience elements from the user interface, according to one embodiment. The method and system include prioritizing questions of the tax return preparation interview process, by relevance to the user, based at least partially on the selected ones of the number of user experience elements, according to one embodiment. The method and system include delivering relevant ones of the questions to the user through the user interface to progress the user through the tax return preparation interview process, according to one embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Safia Ata Ali, Marc Attinasi, Heather Daggett, Phillip J. Ohme
  • Patent number: 10032153
    Abstract: A transaction processing system suitable for processing a merchant transaction includes a computer having a processor, a memory, a plurality of connections over a network for receiving and settling the merchant transaction; and a separator module operative to separate funds associated with the merchant transaction. The separator module further includes a revenue settlement module operative to settle a revenue portion of the merchant transaction in favor of a first account accessible over the network, the first account being associated with the merchant; a tax settlement module operative to settle the tax portion associated with the merchant transaction in favor of a second account accessible over the network, the second account being different than the first account; and a fee resolution module operative to resolve fees associated with operation of the tax settlement module, such that an amount equal to the tax portion is settled in favor of the second account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: STAC IP, LLC
    Inventors: Pino Luongo, William Gordon
  • Patent number: 9965810
    Abstract: Automatically mapping and importing accounting application data into to a tax preparation application. Account data including an account name is received from an accounting application. A tax category corresponding to the account name is determined automatically, and a tax line assignment or line of a form of the tax preparation application is automatically assigned to the account name such that the corresponding account data can be mapped to and imported into the appropriate section of a tax return. For this purpose, a table or spreadsheet of search terms may be used to correlate an account name selected by a user to a tax category, which is used to determine the appropriate tax line assignment or line of a tax form for that particular account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Elizabeth J. Pitt, Steven M. Anderson, Sheri C. Dombrow, Patricia D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9870588
    Abstract: Adapting a tax preparation program to a user of the tax preparation program. Data related to a user of the tax preparation program is received at a computer, and a processing element compares received data to profile criteria to select a profile, which may be a pre-defined profile or a dynamically generated profile. A first template corresponding to the selected profile is selected and includes a first collection of forms or screens selected from available forms or screens of the tax preparation program. The first template screens or forms are displayed to the user who prepares an electronic tax return using the first template. The manner in which the user interacts with or changes the first template may be used to generate a modified or second template, which may be used to prepare a current or future electronic tax return and may be provided to other users having similar profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Genov, Gang Wang
  • Patent number: 9672544
    Abstract: A computerized system and method for preparing at least one tax return, including, but not limited to: accepting tax information, by at least one accounting module, for the at least one tax return from at least one user; processing the tax information, at the at least accounting module, so that at least one third party tax software application can utilize the tax information to calculate the at least one tax return; and providing calculated results of the at least one tax return, from the at least one accounting module, to the at least one user; wherein third-party software is utilized to calculate the at least one tax return so that the at least one accounting module does not need to calculate the at least one tax return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Alexander Kleyman
  • Patent number: 9069869
    Abstract: User data used or generated by an online application is stored by the online application on the client device, rather than entirely on the system hosting the online application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher N. Quinn, Anthony L. Creed, David W. Burklund, Kenichi Mori, Jason J. Casseday
  • Patent number: 9037513
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for providing and managing electronic event tickets are provided. For example, a device for managing an electronic event ticket may include a processor configured to run an electronic ticket management application, a memory device configured to store data associated with the electronic ticket management application, an electronic display configured to display at least a portion of the data associated with the electronic ticket management application, and an input/output interface configured to receive an electronic ticket and the data associated with the electronic ticket for management by the electronic ticket management application. The electronic ticket management application may be configured to enable the electronic device to gain entry to an event and to obtain at least one other event-related benefit after the electronic ticket is received by the input/output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Rosenblatt, Andrew Hodge
  • Patent number: 9013270
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling access by a series of users to a space and/or particular service. The method includes the following steps for each of the users: requesting access to the space and/or service by the user, issuing an access authorization or denial; opening of an access to the space or the service, if an access authorization was issued; estimating a waiting period prior to accessing the space and/or service when the opening is delayed; and issuing to the user at least one piece of information representative of the waiting period. The estimation step takes account of a number of users having already passed through the access and still waiting in the space and/or the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Compagnie Industrielle et Financiere d'Ingenierie “Ingenico”
    Inventors: David Naccache, Christophe Dolique
  • Patent number: 8977234
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating payments using low-cost barcode or RFID tags are disclosed. Such tags can be attached or affixed to physical, real-world objects thus allowing the objects to be purchased using a customer mobile device, without the need for a dedicated, on-site point-of-sale system. The tags may be constructed from paper, metal, leather, plastic or some other low-cost material. The tag allows a unique visual identifier such as a tag code to be imprinted so that it can be read using a mobile camera or other sensor enabled telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: AirArts, Inc.
    Inventor: Ven Chava
  • Patent number: 8893958
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing sales tax information. The information may be generated, for example, in connection with transactions involving financial accounts, such as a credit card account. The sales tax information may be received electronically from, for example, a merchant or a point of sale device. A determination may be made whether there is any missing sales tax information. If there is missing information a request may be generated and sent to a source having the information. The source may receive the request, retrieve the desired information, and transmit it to the requesting entity. The sales tax information may be stored and later retrieved for presentation to a user, such as the account holder. The account holder may use the information in completing a tax return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
    Inventors: Eric D. Fox, Robert W. Gregory, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140330658
    Abstract: A point of sale tax reporting system including a smart tax register located at a retailer location. The retailer smart register processes consumer transactions and calculates the amount of sales tax due the retailer by the consumer for each transaction. After the sales tax is paid to the retailer by the consumer, the register either immediately or periodically forwards the amount of the transaction and the amount of sales tax collected by the retailer to a computer and memory located at a remote location, such as a state government taxing authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Paul A. Francisco, Frederick J. Petschauer
  • Patent number: 8825530
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for verifying tax liability and tax deductions reported by taxable entities. A tax monitoring platform comprising a database management system dynamically generates one or more tax forms specific to each taxable entity based on characteristic information of the taxable entities. The tax monitoring platform acquires tax information filled into the tax forms by the taxable entities via a user interface, extracts tax elements from the tax information, and transforms the tax elements to conform to a predetermined template. The tax monitoring platform determines an association between a first taxable entity and a second taxable entity based on the tax elements of each of the taxable entities, and compares the tax elements of the first taxable entity with the tax elements of the second taxable entity based on the association using the database management system, for determining the accuracy of reporting of tax information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Inventor: Chevine Arthur Miller
  • Patent number: 8825517
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes interacting with a gate access device that is capable of preventing access to a location, where the gate access device subsequently sends an authorization request message to an issuer for approval, the authorization request message including a request to charge a predetermined amount of money to pay for access to a location, and entering the location if the gate access device receives an authorization response message indicating that the charge is authorized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Visa U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ayman Hammad, Phil Dixon, Khalid El-Awady, Patrick Faith, Mark Carlson
  • Patent number: 8799171
    Abstract: A secure online banking transaction apparatus to communicate with a server over a non-secure connection is provided and includes a selector configured to allow for a selection of a mode of the apparatus, a processing unit coupled to the selector and including a secure communication unit, which is configured to set up a secure connection, along which a secure transaction occurs, with the server via the non-secure connection in accordance with the mode, an input unit coupled to the processing unit and configured to allow for a input of data into the apparatus, which is at least partly related to the secure transaction, and an interface coupled to the processing unit and configured to convey at least a status of the secure transaction and the contents off the inputted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Baentsch, Peter Buhler, Thomas Eirich, Frank Hoering, Thorsten Kramp, Thomas Weigold
  • Patent number: 8788351
    Abstract: A point of sale tax reporting system including a smart tax register located at a retailer location. The retailer smart register processes consumer transactions and calculates the amount of sales tax due the retailer by the consumer for each transaction. After the sales tax is paid to the retailer by the consumer, the register either immediately or periodically forwards the amount of the transaction and the amount of sales tax collected by the retailer to a computer and memory located at a remote location, such as a state government taxing authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Taxvantage LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Francisco, Frederick J. Petschauer
  • Patent number: 8781973
    Abstract: In a method of processing customer applications at an event, an application is received from a customer on a customer interface computer. The data in said application is verified on the customer interface computer and encrypted. The encrypted data is transmitted wirelessly to a portal computer via a private wireless network, and then transmitted to a processing computer system for approval of the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Bank of America Corporation
    Inventors: Bellverie E. Ross, II, Dean F. Eastburn, Daniel C. Devoll, Kelly C. Laird, David T. Gulian, Theresa C. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: RE45007
    Abstract: A method for processing taxpayer source documents is disclosed. The method may include receiving proforma data and an electronic image of a taxpayer source document, determining a type of tax statement for the taxpayer source document from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document and using the proforma data, a database, and business rules to verify the type of the tax statement for the electronic image of the taxpayer source document. This can be done by searching for an identification code within the electronic image of the taxpayer source document to determine whether the identification code matches the proforma data. The method can also include extracting data from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document and determining if the extracted data from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document has an error. Once the data is extracted, the method can also include creating an electronic document that includes the extracted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SurePrep, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Wyle
  • Patent number: RE47037
    Abstract: A method for processing taxpayer source documents is disclosed. The method may include receiving proforma data and an electronic image of a taxpayer source document, determining a type of tax statement for the taxpayer source document from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document and using the proforma data, a database, and business rules to verify the type of the tax statement for the electronic image of the taxpayer source document. This can be done by searching for an identification code within the electronic image of the taxpayer source document to determine whether the identification code matches the proforma data. The method can also include extracting data from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document and determining if the extracted data from the electronic image of the taxpayer source document has an error. Once the data is extracted, the method can also include creating an electronic document that includes the extracted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SUREPREP, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Wyle