Abstract: In a collection technique, a user (such as a taxpayer) provides information (such as income-tax information) by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. In particular, the user may provide a description of the document. In response, the user is prompted for the information associated with the field in the document. Then, the user provides the image of a region in the document that includes the field. Based on the image, the information is extracted, and the field in the form is populated using the extracted information. The prompting, receiving, extracting and populating operations may be repeated for one or more additional fields in the document.

Abstract: In a collection technique, a user (such as a taxpayer) provides information (such as income-tax information) by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. In particular, the user may provide a description of the document. In response, the user is prompted for the information associated with the field in the document. Then, the user provides the image of a region in the document that includes the field. Based on the image, the information is extracted, and the field in the form is populated using the extracted information. The prompting, receiving, extracting and populating operations may be repeated for one or more additional fields in the document.

Abstract: In a collection technique, a user (such as a taxpayer) provides information (such as income-tax information) by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. In particular, the user may provide a description of the document. In response, the user is prompted for the information associated with the field in the document. Then, the user provides the image of a region in the document that includes the field. Based on the image, the information is extracted, and the field in the form is populated using the extracted information. The prompting, receiving, extracting and populating operations may be repeated for one or more additional fields in the document.

Abstract: In a collection technique, a user (such as a taxpayer) provides information (such as income-tax information) by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. In particular, the user may provide a description of the document. In response, the user is prompted for the information associated with the field in the document. Then, the user provides the image of a region in the document that includes the field. Based on the image, the information is extracted, and the field in the form is populated using the extracted information. The prompting, receiving, extracting and populating operations may be repeated for one or more additional fields in the document.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for delivering website content to an internet user which is personalized to the user based on a persona associated with the user. A persona database system accesses personal and financial data for the user from any suitable source, such as from a tax return of the user or personal finance management application or even a questionnaire. The persona database system matches the user's data to a persona for the user from a predetermined, discrete set of personas, wherein each persona identifies a generalized profile of personal and financial characteristics of the user. Then, when a user access a website hosted by a website server, the website server accesses the persona for the user from the persona database system and the website server personalizes the website content delivered to the user based on the persona for the user.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for populating a field on a form. The method includes: establishing a communication session between a first computing device and a second computing device; receiving, from a user of the first computing device, a selection of source data; transferring, over the secure communication session, the source data from the first computing device to the second computing device; matching, based on a matching criterion, the source data to the field in the second computing device; calculating, after matching the source data to the field, a value for the field based on the matching criterion and the source data; and populating the field with the value.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for delivering website content to an internet user which is personalized to the user based on a persona associated with the user. A persona database system accesses personal and financial data for the user from any suitable source, such as from a tax return of the user or personal finance management application or even a questionnaire. The persona database system matches the user's data to a persona for the user from a predetermined, discrete set of personas, wherein each persona identifies a generalized profile of personal and financial characteristics of the user. Then, when a user access a website hosted by a website server, the website server accesses the persona for the user from the persona database system and the website server personalizes the website content delivered to the user based on the persona for the user.

Abstract: A computing device of a user, including a processor, a memory, an electronic organization application comprising software instructions stored in memory and executed on the processor to store a plurality of activities associated with the user, and a rewind application configured to interact with the electronic organization application and including software instructions stored in memory and executed on the processor to present at least one question associated with each of the plurality of activities stored in the electronic organization application, receive a response to the at least one question, determine whether each of the plurality of activities is of a predetermined category based on the response received to obtain a subset of the plurality of activities, and store, in a repository, data associated with the subset of the plurality of activities for use in a financial application.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for helping a user configure her paycheck deductions and disbursements. Paycheck information is retrieved (e.g., from an aggregator, from benefits providers, from the user) and a tool is activated to present an electronic paycheck summary to the user. A tax engine is invoked to determine whether her net pay can be increased by reducing the amount of pay withheld for taxes. The user is then invited to change any or all of the benefit deductions taken from her pay. For example, she may be invited to select from a number of insurance plans (e.g., medical, dental, life insurance), select a level of contribution to a retirement account, open an investment account, and so on. Action to implement some or all of the user's selected deductions may then be initiated electronically. Alternatively, she may be presented with a checklist of actions she needs to take.

Abstract: A method for generating a visualization. The method includes receiving, from a user a request to complete a tax form including a first field, presenting a first and second tax query corresponding to the first field, receiving a first response corresponding to the first query and a second response corresponding to the second query, and determining a first value corresponding to the first field using a decision tree corresponding to the first field, and the second response. The method also includes generating a completed tax form including the first value in the first field, generating a visualization corresponding to the first field which graphically depicts a relationship between the first value and the first response and the second response, and displaying the completed tax form and the visualization on a display device with the completed tax form depicting a relationship between the visualization and the first value.

Abstract: A method for populating forms based on a user interview. The method includes generating, using a computer processor, binary questions according to a first rule, receiving answers to the binary questions from the user, adjusting, using the computer processor, a binary question based on answers according to a second rule during the user interview, and identifying, using the computer processor, forms from a forms library based on the answers according to a third rule. The method also includes presenting based on the answers, data entry fields of forms to the user in a unified format, where related data entry fields are grouped together to form data entry menus in the unified format, receiving data from the user for the data entry fields, populating a portion of the forms to generate populated forms based on the data, and storing the populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user.

Abstract: A tax refund amount is determined or received at an intermediate computer operably connected to tax authority and user computers. The user computer and a tax preparation program are used to prepare an electronic tax return and determine the refund amount. Accounts that are available to receive a portion of the refund are identified and selected. A determination regarding how the refund can be allocated to selected accounts is made. The refund is transferred from the tax authority to the intermediate computer, and respective portions of the refund are transferred from the intermediate computer to respective selected accounts based at least in part upon a determined or selected allocation to increase the value of the refund, e.g., due to interest rates of selected accounts, compared to the refund value determined with the tax preparation program.

Abstract: A method for community-based tax deduction advice involves displaying a suggestion input control in a networked tax preparation application, obtaining tax deduction suggestions from taxpayers using the suggestion input control, and displaying a live feed of tax deduction suggestions to a user of the networked tax preparation application.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method, system, and computer readable medium for interpreting discrepancy codes. The invention comprises obtaining, by an intermediary system, tax information associated with a taxpayer, wherein the tax information comprises an expected refund amount; obtaining an issued refund amount associated with the taxpayer; comparing the expected refund amount and the issued refund amount; determining, based on the comparing, a discrepancy amount; obtaining, in response to determining the discrepancy amount, a discrepancy code associated with the issued refund amount; retrieving, from a discrepancy code database, a discrepancy information record using the discrepancy code, wherein the discrepancy information record indicates a source of the discrepancy amount; generating a discrepancy explanation using the discrepancy information record, the discrepancy amount, and the tax information; and sending the generated discrepancy explanation to a client system.

Abstract: In a collection technique, a user (such as a taxpayer) provides information (such as income-tax information) by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. In particular, the user may provide a description of the document. In response, the user is prompted for the information associated with the field in the document. Then, the user provides the image of a region in the document that includes the field. Based on the image, the information is extracted, and the field in the form is populated using the extracted information. The prompting, receiving, extracting and populating operations may be repeated for one or more additional fields in the document.

Abstract: A method and system for providing relative financial position data whereby actual financial data, such as, but not limited to, overall financial position data, income and asset data, expense data, and transactional data, and/or demographic data for various individuals is obtained from one or more sources. A given individual's actual financial transaction data is then compared with other individuals that are determined to be similarly situated with the given individual. The given individual is then provided one or more graphical displays and/or data displays showing a comparison between the given individual's own financial data and/or position and the average financial data and/or position of similarly situated individuals.

Abstract: A technique for collecting income-tax information is described. This collection technique allows a user (such as a taxpayer) to provide income-tax information by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. After receiving the image, the income-tax information is extracted from the document, and a subset of the income-tax information that is relevant to the user is determined. This subset of the income-tax information is then provided to the user for validation, and the user subsequently provides feedback about the subset of the income-tax information, such as acceptance of the subset or correction of any errors. Furthermore, after receiving the user feedback, fields in an income-tax return of the user may be populated using the subset of the income-tax information.

Abstract: A method for completing a financial form by a user, including: generating a plurality of panels associated with a plurality of financial events reported by the financial form; obtaining a visual data item associated with the user and a financial event of the plurality of financial events; applying the visual data item to a panel of the plurality of panels, where the panel is associated with the financial event; capturing a financial value associated with the financial event using the panel; populating at least a portion of the financial form based on the financial value; extracting a key from a previously populated financial form associated with the user; and searching a visual data source based on the key, where the visual data item is located in the visual data source.

Abstract: A portable computing device associated with a user for tracking mileage in a motor vehicle, including a processor, a memory, a global positioning satellite (GPS) module configured to determine a physical location of the portable computing device, a tracking application stored in the memory of the portable computing device, wherein the tracking application is configured to activate based on a movement of the portable computing device, determine whether a threshold speed is reached by the portable computing device, record a number of miles traveled by the portable computing device in the motor vehicle to obtain tracking data, and display the tracking data for reconciliation by the user, wherein the tracking application determines physical locations of the user using the GPS module, wherein reconciling data includes indicating which tracking data is business related, and wherein the recorded mileage is configured to be downloaded into a financial application.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for determining a price for a service includes determining a price range for the service based on data associated with a prospective user of the service, transmitting the price range to the prospective user, enabling access to the service based on an acceptance of the price range by the prospective user, and transmitting a final price within the price range to the prospective user, wherein the final price is based on use of the service by the prospective user.