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: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for associated tax data in a tax data item with a tax entity to which the tax data item pertains. A computerized tax return system is configured to access a tax data item having tax data regarding a tax entity. The system stores tax entity record(s) for one or more tax entities related to a tax return. The system has a set of matching rules for matching tax data from the tax data item with key attributes of the tax entity record(s) for a respective tax topic, and a matching algorithm for utilizing the matching rules to compare utilize the matching rules to compute a matching score. The tax return system determines a matching tax entity using the matching score. The system associates the matching tax entity with the tax data and generates a normalized data set for the tax data item.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for implementing software products or services with dynamic conditions and dynamic actions. These techniques identify a plurality of flow nodes for a software application. One or more dynamic conditions may be identified or determined for the plurality of flow nodes; and one or more dynamic actions may be identified or determined for the one or more dynamic conditions. A dynamic flow may be determined with the plurality of flow nodes, the one or more dynamic conditions, and the one or more dynamic actions, without hard coded inter-dependency between two or more flow nodes of the plurality of flow nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for implementing an intelligent system with dynamic configurability. These techniques identifying a plurality of flow nodes for a software application and determine a dynamic flow for executions of the intelligent system with the plurality of flow nodes, one or more dynamic conditions, and one or more dynamic actions, without hard coded inter-dependency between two or more flow nodes of the plurality of flow nodes. The intelligent system is transformed into a dynamically configured intelligent system at least by performing a modification pertaining to one or more flow nodes in the dynamic flow, without affecting remaining flow nodes in the dynamic flow.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for implementing software products or services with dynamic conditions and dynamic actions. These techniques identify a plurality of flow nodes for a software application. One or more dynamic conditions may be identified or determined for the plurality of flow nodes; and one or more dynamic actions may be identified or determined for the one or more dynamic conditions. A dynamic flow may be determined with the plurality of flow nodes, the one or more dynamic conditions, and the one or more dynamic actions, without hard coded inter-dependency between two or more flow nodes of the plurality of flow nodes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for associated tax data in a tax data item with a tax entity to which the tax data item pertains. A computerized tax return system is configured to access a tax data item having tax data regarding a tax entity. The system stores tax entity record(s) for one or more tax entities related to a tax return. The system has a set of matching rules for matching tax data from the tax data item with key attributes of the tax entity record(s) for a respective tax topic, and a matching algorithm for utilizing the matching rules to compare utilize the matching rules to compute a matching score. The tax return system determines a matching tax entity using the matching score. The system associates the matching tax entity with the tax data and generates a normalized data set for the tax data item.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for modifying the manner in which interview questions are presented to a user of a tax return preparation application to provide a more personalized experience during preparation of an electronic tax return. A selected question that is consistent with a data model or schema is modified or twisted such that the selected question is reworded or rephrased. The modified question, rather than the original question, is presented to the user. The user's answer to the modified question is converted, mapped or “untwisted” to derive a corresponding answer to the original question that is consistent with the data model or schema utilized by the tax return preparation application. The corresponding answer may then be read by a rule engine or logic agent that utilizes a decision table that defines rules to determine which additional or other questions can be presented to the user.