Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating a sub-graph of a tax calculation graph usable by a tax calculation engine to perform tax calculation operations. 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 system comprises a tax calculation graph and a sub-graph engine which executes on the computing device. The sub-graph engine is configured to generate a sub-graph of the tax calculation graph based upon a target node and one or more user enterable nodes selected from the nodes of the tax calculation graph. The sub-graph engine analyzes the tax calculation graph in view of the target node and user enterable nodes and generates a sub-graph which excludes all nodes which are not necessary to calculate the target node.

Abstract: A modular, computerized tax return preparation application engine including modular tax logic engine and interface controller components loosely coupled to each other and a modular completion monitor. Modular tax logic engine receives runtime data of the tax return and generates a first non-binding suggestion involving a tax topic that is incomplete based on first runtime data and a decision table. Modular interface controller generates a first interface including a first interview screen including content based on the first non-binding suggestion. For iterations or changes of runtime data, completion monitor determines when a previously complete tax topic is now incomplete and notifies modular interface controller regarding the completion status modification. In response modular interface controller generates a second interface comprising an encoded link to an interview screen or screens to address previously complete but currently incomplete tax topics.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for estimating a likelihood of an individual qualifying for a benefit program includes obtaining a profile corresponding to the individual. The method also includes determining respective likelihoods that the profile would satisfy each completeness graph in a set of completeness graphs by running the profile against each completeness graph using an evaluation algorithm. Each completeness graph corresponds to a respective benefit program.

Abstract: Modular computerized tax return preparation systems that allow tax data determinations to be performed when the user indicates that tax data will not be entered, which may be for various reasons including the user declining to provide personal information (such as a social security number or other personal identification information), not knowing the requested data, or not having the requested data readily available. A user interface controller presents an interview screen requesting data tax return data and the user responds that the requested data applies to the user but is not being entered or will be entered at a later time. A placeholder is generated or selected for interim use until the requested data is provided by the user, and when provided, tax data determinations and calculations can be repeated as necessary if the provided data differs from the placeholder.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for uniquely identifying instances during preparation of an electronic tax return. A user interface (UI) controller receives inputs related to respective electronic tax return data for the same element of a schema, e.g., different data for two different Form W-2 documents. The UI controller generates different instance identifiers, which are written to a data store with the electronic tax return data. A first instance for the first electronic tax return data is generated from the schema element for Form W-2 and identified by a first instance identifier, and a second instance for the second electronic tax return data is generated from the same schema element and identified by the different, second instance identifier. The instance identifiers are used by a logic agent that generates non-binding suggestions for the UI controller indicating a question nor topic to present to the user.

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.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for rendering paginated interview screens that include arrangements of tax questions or topics representative of question or topic relevancy and that are selected and arranged based at least in part upon determined question or topic categorization and/or ranking. Different pagination structures may be utilized to visually indicate tax question or topic relevancy and to encourage or enable users of a tax return preparation application to answer more pertinent questions or topics before others, while also allowing the user to navigate or scroll questions or topics of paginated screens and to select questions or topics to answer or address at the user's discretion, without being restricted by a pre-determined sequence of interview questions or hard-coded question-and-answer frameworks. Interview screen paginations and content thereof are dynamically updated as runtime data of the electronic tax return is received or updated.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture for a method for generating a database of tax correlation data which can be used for tailoring a user experience in preparing an electronic tax return. A computing device accesses a data source having a plurality of data records. Each data record comprises a taxpayer attribute and a tax related aspect for a respective taxpayer. The computing device analyzes the plurality of data records and determines a correlation between the taxpayer attribute and the tax related aspect and determines a probability for the correlation. The computing device utilizes the probability for the correlation to determine a quantitative relevancy score for a tax matter, which can be incorporated into the tax correlation data of the life/knowledge module.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, system and computer program products for identifying and communicating errors or inconsistencies in data of an electronic tax return during preparation of the electronic tax return, e.g., presenting a message to a user regarding the error or inconsistency “on the spot” or immediately in response to identifying the error or inconsistency during a currently displayed interview screen. Error messages may be communicated to an interface controller that processes error messages or non-binding suggestions concerning same from a rule module by the rule module pushing messages to the interface controller, the interface controller pulling or querying the rule module, or by use of a shared memory or data store to which the rule module pushes messages and from which the interface controller pulls or retrieves the messages generated by the rule module.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for acquiring benefits qualification data includes obtaining a profile corresponding to the individual. The method also includes forming respective sets of unanswered questions in each completeness graph in a set of completeness graphs by running the profile against each completeness graph. The method further includes forming a union set of unanswered questions in the set of completeness graphs from the respective sets of unanswered questions in each completeness graph. Moreover, the method includes identifying a high priority unanswered question in the union set of unanswered questions using a prioritization algorithm. Each completeness graph corresponds to a respective benefit program.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an explanation for changes in tax liability over different tax reporting periods includes a computing device executing a tax calculation engine associated with tax preparation software. The tax calculation engine operates on first and second tax calculation graphs representing different tax reporting periods. The first and second tax calculation graphs are different in at least one respect. The first and second tax calculation graphs each describe data dependent tax operations comprising a plurality of interconnecting functional nodes connected by one of a plurality of functions. The computing device automatically identifies the differences among nodes within the respective first and second tax calculation graphs and executes an explanation engine associated with the tax preparation software to generate a textual explanation identifying one or more differences among the nodes.

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.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for determining impact correlations from a calculation graph for calculating taxes. 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 an impact chain engine. The tax calculation engine is configured to perform a plurality of tax calculation operations based on the tax calculation graph. The impact chain engine is configured to analyze the tax calculation graph and determine an impact correlation between a change in a value of a first node caused by a change in a value of a second node utilizing an impact chain which includes both the first node and the second node.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems, methods and articles for preparing and/or submitting a plurality of different types of compliance forms for submission to a regulatory agency. The system includes a computing device, a data store, and a compliance form software program executable by the computing device. The compliance program includes a universal calculation engine, logic agent and user interface manager which are configured to process a respective domain model configured for each type of compliance form. Each domain model includes a calculation graph, a completeness model comprising decision table(s) and/or completeness graph(s), user interface assets and filing rules configured specifically for a particular type of compliance form. The rules and regulations for each type of compliance form are embodied in the declaratory data structures of the respective calculation graph and completeness graph for each domain model.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a customized tax preparation experience for a user of tax preparation software includes a computing device executing a data capture utility, the data capture utility connecting to one or more remote data sources and capturing and transferring at least some tax data contained therein to a data store associated with the tax preparation software. The computing device executes a topic analysis engine configured to identify highly relevant tax topics from the data transferred to the data store. A user interface manager automatically generates interview questions or statements on said highly relevant tax topics. The user confirms whether other tax topics apply to the user. The computing device executes a tax calculation engine of the tax preparation software configured to compute a tax liability or refund amount.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating an explanation for a benefit qualification status change over different benefit qualification periods includes a computing device executing a benefit calculation engine. The benefit calculation engine operates on first and second benefit completeness graphs from respective first and second benefit qualification periods to perform first and second benefit qualification status determination. The first and second benefit completeness graphs each describe data dependent benefit qualification operations including a plurality of interconnecting functional nodes connected by one of a plurality of functions. The method also includes the computing device identifying the differences among nodes within the first benefit completeness graph and the second benefit completeness graph.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing a notice regarding a benefit qualification status change includes receiving a change in a qualification requirement for a benefit program. The method also includes obtaining a completeness graph corresponding to the benefit program. The method further includes modifying the completeness graph based on the received change in the qualification requirement for the benefit program. Moreover, the method includes obtaining a profile corresponding to an individual. In addition, the method includes obtaining a first qualification status relating to the individual's qualification for the benefit program before the received change in the qualification requirement for the benefit program. The method also includes determining a second qualification status by running the profile against the modified completeness graph.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method, tax return preparation systems and computer program products for presenting an explanation for a tax calculation or operation performed by a tax return preparation system when the system is in “forms” mode. An electronic version of a tax authority form that has been modified by inclusion of interface elements is displayed to a user. In response to the user selecting an interface element while in forms mode, presentation of an explanation regarding a tax calculation or operation for the associated field is invoked. The user interface controller provides data in response to selection of the interface element to an explanation engine, which determines an explanation based at least in part upon the tax calculation graph. The explanation is provided to the user interface controller for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for determining which questions to present to a user of a modular tax preparation application in which analysis of tax logic by the tax logic agent is separate from interview screens generated by the user interface controller. A topic engine of the modular tax preparation application is configured or programmed to predict which tax topics are applicable to the current electronic tax return based at least in part upon a data of a prior year tax return. Other sources besides the current tax return being prepared and the prior year tax return may also be utilized for topic determination. The tax logic agent generates a non-binding suggestion for the user interface controller based at least in part upon an output generated by the topic engine.

Abstract: A system for explaining added tax questions resulting from modified tax data for an electronic tax return preparation program includes a computing device having a completeness graph engine, an explanation engine, and a user interface controller. The computing device executes the completeness graph engine, which takes a first snapshot of input needs for a completeness graph corresponding to a tax topic, takes a second snapshot of input needs for the completeness graph corresponding to the tax topic after receiving modified tax data, and compares the first and second snapshots to identify an added variable in the completeness graph. An explanation engine analyzes the completeness graph and the modified tax data to generate an explanation asset for the added variable. A user interface controller generates a tax question corresponding to the added variable. The computing device presents the tax question and the explanation asset to a user.