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.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of calculating tax liability using automatically generated estimates uses a computing device connecting to a shared data store configured to store user-specific tax data therein. The computing device executes an estimation module configured to estimate user-specific tax data and write the estimated user-specific tax data to the shared data store. A tax calculation engine configured to read user-specific tax data from the shared data store and write calculated tax data to the shared data store is executed, wherein at least some of the read data comprises estimated user-specific tax data.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the targeted gathering of tax data for use with tax preparation software includes a computing device presenting to the user a plurality of interview questions or statements. The computing device creates a user profile based on the responses to the interview questions or statements. The computing device identifies highly relevant tax topics based on user profile and executes a user interface manager to automatically generate interview questions or statements on said highly relevant tax topics. The user then 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 inferring or estimating user-related data for use with tax preparation software is disclosed. The method uses a computer that connects to the one or more remotely located data sources and executing a data capture utility, the data capture utility capturing at least some tax data pertaining to the user. The computing device executes an estimation module that receives the captured tax data pertaining to the user and generates one or more estimates and stores the one or more estimates in a data store associated with the tax preparation software, the data store configured to store user-specific tax data therein. The computing device executes a tax calculation engine of the tax preparation software configured to read the user-specific tax data contained in the data store and compute an intermediate or final tax liability or refund amount.

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.

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: 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: 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: 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 analytic system for allocating resources of an electronic tax return preparation system, the system includes an information module configured to collect taxpayer data of a user, the taxpayer data including an indicator of an increased likelihood that the user will abandon the electronic tax return preparation program. The system also includes a memory module configured to store the collected taxpayer data. The system further includes a retention module configured to analyze the collected taxpayer data and generate a resource allocation recommendation based on the collected taxpayer data.

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: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for determining tax recommendations for a taxpayer by using a tax calculation graph to identify tax variables that a taxpayer can control and modify. The tax preparation system of comprises a recommendation engine configured to analyze a tax calculation graph which is calculated using tax data of the taxpayer. The recommendation engine determines tax variables from the tax calculation graph which can affect the tax result. The recommendation engine analyzes these tax variables to determine which of them can be reasonably controlled by the taxpayer using a controllability model. The recommendation engine then executes a tax calculation engine to calculate the tax calculation graph by varying the taxpayer controllable variables to determine how varying the user controllable variables affects the tax result. The recommendation engine then analyzes the affect on the tax result and determines one or more tax recommendation for the taxpayer.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, computerized systems and articles of manufacture for processing sensitive electronic tax return data. A tax logic agent reads runtime data of the electronic tax return from a shared data store and identifies logic computations to be performed given a directed completion graph and runtime data. Certain logic computations involve sensitive runtime data (name, social security number, other personal identification data, and private data such as address, telephone number and account numbers), are indicated as such, and may be processed differently than other logic computations involving runtime data not indicated to be sensitive data. Logic computations involving sensitive data may be performed locally, whereas logic computations not involving sensitive data may be performed by a remote computing resource, in which case computation results are merged and used to generate a non-binding suggestion of a topic or question to present to the user via the user interface controller.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for gathering user-related tax data for use with tax preparation software includes a computing device executing a data capture utility configured to connect to one or more remotely located data sources, wherein the data capture utility captures user-specific tax data from the one or more remotely located data sources and stores the captured data in a data store. The computing device executes a tax logic engine configured to read data from the data store and determine the completeness of the data contained within the data store. The computing device communicates a message to the user regarding the level of completeness of the data contained within the data store.

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.

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.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for gathering user-related tax data for use with tax preparation software includes a computing device executing a data capture utility configured to connect to one or more remotely located data sources, wherein the data capture utility captures user-specific tax data from the one or more remotely located data sources and stores the captured data in a data store. The computing device executes a tax logic engine configured to read data from the data store and determine the completeness of the data contained within the data store. The computing device communicates a message to the user regarding the level of completeness of the data contained within the data store.

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.