DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
This action is in reply to the communications filed on 05/26/2026 and 06/02/2026.
Claims 1, 6, and 20 have been amended and are hereby entered.
Claims 1 and 3-20 are currently pending and have been examined.
This action is made Non-Final.
Examiner Request
The Applicant is requested to indicate where in the specification there is support for future claim amendments to avoid U.S.C 112(a) issues that can arise. The Examiner thanks the Applicant in advance.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 06/02/2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 6, 14, and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1: lines 36-37 and Claim 20: lines 42-43 recite the limitation “where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information.” A “tax preparation system” is not previously recited in independent Claim 1 and Claim 20. For compact examination purposes, Examiner interpreted the instance recited in Claim 1: lines 36-37 and Claim 20: lines 42-43 as “where a tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 6: lines 15-16 and Claim 14: lines 4-5 recite the limitation “a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system.” A “tax preparation system” is previously recited in Claim 1: lines 36-37 and Claim 20: lines 42-43. Is the ‘tax preparation system’ recited in Claim 6: lines 15-16 and Claim 14: lines 4-5 different than a ‘tax preparation system’ previously recited in Claim 1: lines 36-37 and Claim 20: lines 42-43? It appears there is a typographical mistake since the specification only points to a single instance of a tax preparation system. For compact examination purposes, Examiner interpreted the instances recited in Claim 6: lines 15-16 and Claim 14: lines 4-5 as “a tax document collection data format usable by the tax preparation system.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1 and 3-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data, without significantly more.
Claim 1 is directed to a method, which is one of the statutory categories of invention; and Claim 20 is directed to a system, which is one of the statutory categories of invention. (Step 1: YES).
Claim 1 is directed to a method, which recites a series of steps, e.g., transmitting, by one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request; receiving, by the one or more processors, the first connection request from a tax preparer device for the first taxpayer device having a first taxpayer identifier to access a tax preparer account in a database, wherein the tax preparer account is associated with the tax preparer device; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the first taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a first restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing a tax preparer account in the database; automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the tax preparer device for a second tax payer device having a second taxpayer identifier to access the tax preparer account in the database; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; determining, by the one or more processors, that digital tax information in the tax preparer account in the database is relevant to the second taxpayer identifier based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document; formatting, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from the tax document into a data structure; and obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from a plurality of data cells or data regions containing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format formatted in the data structure where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information. These series of steps describe the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data (with the exception of the italicized and bolded terms above), which is mitigating risk of potential errors and inaccuracy when preparing tax document by being inundated with tax documents and/or delays for the tax preparer and the companies the tax preparer works for in receiving information and signed agreements; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the preparation and processing of a taxpayer’s data by a tax preparer to prepare and complete the taxes of the taxpayer, which is commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The system limitations, e.g., one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea. Thus, claim 1 recites an abstract idea (Step 2A-Prong 1: YES).
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the additional elements of one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements listed above are all recited at a high level of generality and under their broadest reasonable interpretation comprises a generic computing arrangement. The presence of a generic computer arrangement is nothing more than to implement the claimed invention (MPEP 2106.05(f)). The computer network limitations are a field of use limitations (MPEP 2106.05(h)). Therefore, the recitations of additional elements do not meaningfully apply the abstract idea and hence do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Thus, claim 1 does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application (Step 2A-Prong 2: NO).
Claim 1 does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements of one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, are recited at a high level of generality in that it results in no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements when considered separately and as an ordered combination do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment (Step 2B: NO). Thus, claim 1 is not patent eligible.
Dependent claims 3-19 are directed to a method that recite steps that describe the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data. Furthermore, dependent claims 3-4, 6-9, 14, 16-17, and 19 are directed to a method, which recite the steps: “wherein at least one of the automatically disassociating or the automatically associating occurs in an access table; wherein the taxpayer account includes digital tax information in a tax document collection data unit; further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, digital tax information comprising information about a taxpayer, tax return items, tax data and image data from a tax document; providing, by the one or more processors, a file name to each of the tax return items of the digital tax information, wherein the file name identifies characteristics of the tax return item of the digital tax information including at least one of a type of tax return item, an entity administering the tax return item, the taxpayer identifier, or a tax year associated with the tax return item; and storing, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns; further comprising: detecting, by the one or more processors, in tax data in the taxpayer account a type of the tax data, a format of the tax data, a location of the tax data within a tax document and value ranges of the tax data; recognizing and interpreting the tax data based on a format of the tax data being in a tax document collection data format; determining, by the one or more processors, that the taxpayer has an account at a financial institution based on the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges; determining, by the one or more processors, that the tax data includes activity on accounts in a current tax year such that the tax data is used in the current tax year; obtaining, by the one or more processors, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer; grouping, by the one or more processors, the list of the prior tax return items based on at least one of tax return item type, institution type, tax return item name, or institution name; providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, the list of the prior tax return items for display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device; and providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, a reminder to obtain the tax return items for a current year that correspond to the list of the prior tax return items, in order to supplement digital tax information in the taxpayer account; wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises at least one of obtaining the list of the prior tax return items by automatically detecting the tax return items from the prior year tax return or obtaining the list of the prior tax return items from a tax return preparation system; further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from a third party system, third party digital tax information; determining, by the one or more processors, whether the third party digital tax information is relevant to preparing a tax return in the current tax year based on at least one of account type, account number, name, document type, organization, metadata, values, content or date of the third party digital tax information; deleting, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information not being relevant; saving, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information being relevant; assigning, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to at least one of a tax category or to a matching tax item on a list of prior tax return items from the prior year tax return of the taxpayer; adding, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to the list of the prior tax return items, in response to the third party digital tax information not matching to the prior tax return items on the list of the prior tax return items; populating, by the one or more processors, a field of a tax form with a subset of tax data and an account at the financial institution, based on the tax data used in the current tax year, the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges; and generating, by the one or more processors using an automated tax return preparation system, a completed tax return from the third party digital tax information and the tax form; further comprising providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, functionality for at least one of signing a tax form, signing an E-File Authorization form for a tax form, paying a tax preparer invoice, formatting digital tax information in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system or making tax payments to tax authorities; further comprising downloading, by the one or more processors using a document download unit, at least one of digital tax information or a tax return to at least one of the first taxpayer device, the second taxpayer device or the tax preparer device; further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the tax preparer device, at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or estimated tax payment schedule; and providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule, wherein at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule are automatically generated by a tax return preparation system; and further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the tax preparer device, an identification of the second taxpayer device associated with the tax preparer device; transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the tax preparer device; receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second taxpayer device, an acceptance of the software link of the invitation to join; and associating, by the one or more processors in an access table, the second taxpayer device with the tax preparer device.” These series of steps describe the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data (with the exception of the italicized and bolded terms above), which is mitigating risk of potential errors and inaccuracy when preparing tax document by being inundated with tax documents and/or delays for the tax preparer and the companies the tax preparer works for in receiving information and signed agreements; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the preparation and processing of a taxpayer’s data by a tax preparer to prepare and complete the taxes of the taxpayer, which is commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. Thus, claims 3-20 are directed to an abstract idea. The additional elements of one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, tax preparation system, access table, tax document collection data unit, memory, graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device, tax return preparation system, third party system, automated tax return preparation system, and document download unit, are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The presence of a generic computer arrangement is nothing more than to implement the claimed invention (MPEP 2106.05(f)). Therefore, the recitations of additional elements do not meaningfully apply the abstract idea and hence do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Furthermore, the additional elements: one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, tax preparation system, access table, tax document collection data unit, memory, graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device, tax return preparation system, third party system, automated tax return preparation system, and document download unit, do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment.
Claim 20 is directed to a system comprising: one or more processors; and one or more tangible, non-transitory memories configured to communicate with the one or more processors, the one or more tangible, non-transitory memories having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: transmitting, by the one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request; receiving, by the one or more processors, the first connection request from a tax preparer device for the first taxpayer device having a first taxpayer identifier to access a tax preparer account in a database, wherein the tax preparer account is associated with the tax preparer device; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the first taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a first restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database; automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the tax preparer device for a second tax payer device having a second taxpayer identifier to access the tax preparer account in the database; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; determining, by the one or more processors, that digital tax information in the tax preparer account in the database is relevant to the second taxpayer identifier based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document; formatting, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from the tax document into a data structure; and obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from a plurality of data cells or data regions containing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format formatted in the data structure where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information.. These series of steps describe the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data (with the exception of the italicized and bolded terms above), which is mitigating risk of potential errors and inaccuracy when preparing tax document by being inundated with tax documents and/or delays for the tax preparer and the companies the tax preparer works for in receiving information and signed agreements; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the preparation and processing of a taxpayer’s data by a tax preparer to prepare and complete the taxes of the taxpayer, which is commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The system limitations, e.g., one or more processors, one or more tangible, non-transitory memories, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea. Thus, claim 20 recites an abstract idea (Step 2A-Prong 1: YES).
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the additional elements of one or more processors, one or more tangible, non-transitory memories, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements listed above are all recited at a high level of generality and under their broadest reasonable interpretation comprises a generic computing arrangement. The presence of a generic computer arrangement is nothing more than to implement the claimed invention (MPEP 2106.05(f)). Therefore, the recitations of additional elements do not meaningfully apply the abstract idea and hence do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Thus, claim 20 does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application (Step 2A-Prong 2: NO).
Claim 20 does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements of one or more processors, one or more tangible, non-transitory memories, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, are recited at a high level of generality in that it results in no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements when considered separately and as an ordered combination do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment (Step 2B: NO). Thus, claim 20 is not patent eligible.
Dependent claims 3-19 have further defined the abstract idea that is present in their respective independent claim: Claim 1, and thus correspond to Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity, and hence are abstract in nature for the reason presented above. The dependent claims 3-19 do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception when considered both individually and as an ordered combination. Therefore, dependent claims 3-19 are directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Thus, claims 1 and 3-20 are not patent-eligible.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AlA. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1 and 3-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 21-23, 25-28, 31-32, 36-37, and 39-40 of U.S. Patent No. 11,238,540, claims 1-8, 10-14, and 16-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,710,192, and claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,148,050. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1 and 3-20 of the instant application are anticipated by patent claims 21-23, 25-28, 31-32, 36-37, and 39-40 of U.S. Patent No. 11,238,540, claims 1-8, 10-14, and 16-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,710,192, and claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,148,050. See chart below:
Instant Application No. 18/895,142
US Patent No. 11,238,540
For ease of comprehension, below contains only relevant and redacted claim language from the allowed patented application.
US Patent No. 11,710,192
For ease of comprehension, below contains only relevant and redacted claim language from the allowed patented application.
US Patent No. 12,148,050
For ease of comprehension, below contains only relevant and redacted claim language from the allowed patented application.
Claims 1 and 20:
A method comprising:
A system comprising: one or more processors; and one or more tangible, non-transitory memories configured to communicate with the one or more processors, the one or more tangible, non-transitory memories having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
transmitting, by one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request;
receiving, by the one or more processors, the first connection request from a tax preparer device for the first taxpayer device having a first taxpayer identifier to access a tax preparer account in a database, wherein the tax preparer account is associated with the tax preparer device;
automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the first taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database;
receiving, by one or more processors, a first restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database;
automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database;
receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the tax preparer device for a second tax payer device having a second taxpayer identifier to access the tax preparer account in the database;
automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database;
determining, by the one or more processors, that digital tax information in the tax preparer account in the database is relevant to the second taxpayer identifier based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document;
formatting, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from the tax document into a data structure; and
obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from a plurality of data cells or data regions containing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format formatted in the data structure where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information.
Claim 21:
A method comprising:
Claim 40: transmitting, by the server and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the first tax preparer device;
Claim 21: receiving, by the server, a first connection request from a first tax preparer device; receiving, by the server, a first connection request from a first tax preparer device;
associating, by the server, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with a tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device;
providing, by the server and to the first tax preparer device, access to the digital tax information and the tax data in the tax document collection data unit;
receiving, by the server, a restriction request from at least one of the GUI of the taxpayer device or the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information;
disassociating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
receiving, by the server, a second connection request from at least one of the GUI of the taxpayer device or a second tax preparer device; providing, by the server and to the second tax preparer device, access to the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
associating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with a tax preparer identifier of the second tax preparer device; receiving, by the server, a second connection request from at least one of the GUI of the taxpayer device or a second tax preparer device;
providing, by the server and to the second tax preparer device, access to the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
determining, by the server, that the digital tax information is relevant to the taxpayer based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document;
Claim 31: formatting the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format usable by the tax preparation system;
obtaining, by the server, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer; storing, by the server, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns.
Claims 1 and 18:
A method comprising:
A system comprising: a processor; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
Claim 17: transmitting, by the processor and to the taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the first tax preparer device;
receiving, by a processor, a first connection request from a first tax preparer device to access a taxpayer account; receiving, by the processor, an acceptance of the first connection request for the taxpayer account from the taxpayer device;
associating, by the processor, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with a first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device;
providing, by the processor and to the first tax preparer device, access to the tax payer account with digital tax information and tax data in a tax document collection data unit;
receiving, by the processor, a restriction request from at least one of the taxpayer device or the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the tax payer account and the digital tax information;
disassociating, by the processor in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the tax payer account with the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
receiving, by the processor, a second connection request from the taxpayer device or a second tax preparer device to access the taxpayer account; providing, by the processor and to the second tax preparer device, access to the taxpayer account having the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit.
associating, by the processor in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with a second tax preparer identifier of the second tax preparer device; receiving, by the processor, a second connection request from at least one of the taxpayer device or a second tax preparer device to access the taxpayer account;
providing, by the processor and to the second tax preparer device, access to the taxpayer account having the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit.
Claim 2: determining, by the processor, that the digital tax information is relevant to the taxpayer based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document;
Claim 11: formatting the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format usable by the tax preparation system;
Claims 2 and 4: obtaining, by the processor, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer; storing, by the processor, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns.
Claims 1 and 20:
A method comprising:
A system comprising: one or more processors; and one or more tangible, non-transitory memories configured to communicate with the one or more processors, the one or more tangible, non-transitory memories having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
Claim 19: transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the one or more taxpayer devices, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the second tax preparer device;
receiving, by one or more processors, a first connection request from a taxpayer device for a first tax preparer device having a first tax preparer identifier to access a taxpayer account in a database, wherein the taxpayer account is associated with the taxpayer device;
automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the first tax preparer device, access to the taxpayer account in the database
receiving, by the one or more processors, a second first restriction request from the taxpayer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the taxpayer account in the database;
automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the taxpayer account in the database;
receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the taxpayer device for a second tax preparer device having a second tax preparer identifier to access the taxpayer account in the database;
automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the second tax preparer identifier of the second tax preparer device;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the second tax preparer device, access to the taxpayer account in the database.
Claim 5: determining, by the one or more processors, that the digital tax information is relevant to the taxpayer based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document;
Claim 14: formatting digital tax information in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system;
Claims 5 and 7: obtaining, by the one or more processors, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer; storing, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns.
Claim 3: wherein at least one of the automatically disassociating or the automatically associating occurs in an access table.
Claim 21: disassociating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit; associating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with a tax preparer identifier of the second tax preparer device;
Claims 1 and 18: disassociating, by the processor in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the tax payer account with the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
Claim 2: wherein at least one of the automatically disassociating or the automatically associating occurs in an access table.
Claim 4: wherein the taxpayer account includes digital tax information in a tax document collection data unit.
Claim 21: providing, by the server and to the first tax preparer device, access to the digital tax information and the tax data in the tax document collection data unit;
Claims 1 and 18: providing, by the processor and to the first tax preparer device, access to the tax payer account with digital tax information and tax data in a tax document collection data unit;
Claim 3: wherein the taxpayer account includes digital tax information in a tax document collection data unit.
Claim 5: further comprising: transmitting, by the one or more processors, the second connection request to the tax preparer device; and receiving, by the one or more processors, the acceptance of the second connection request from the tax preparer device to access the tax preparer account.
Claim 21: transmitting, by the server, the first connection request to the GUI of the taxpayer device; receiving, by the server, an acceptance of the first connection request from the GUI of the taxpayer device;
Claims 1 and 18: transmitting, by the processor, the first connection request to a taxpayer device; receiving, by the processor, an acceptance of the first connection request for the taxpayer account from the taxpayer device;
Claim 4: further comprising: transmitting, by the one or more processors, the second connection request to the taxpayer device; and receiving, by the one or more processors, the acceptance of the second connection request from the taxpayer device to access the taxpayer account.
Claim 6: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, digital tax information comprising information about a taxpayer, tax return items, tax data and image data from a tax document;
providing, by the one or more processors, a file name to each of the tax return items of the digital tax information, wherein the file name identifies characteristics of the tax return item of the digital tax information including at least one of a type of tax return item, an entity administering the tax return item, the taxpayer identifier, or a tax year associated with the tax return item;
storing, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns.
Claim 21: receiving, by a server and from a taxpayer device, digital tax information comprising information about a taxpayer, tax return items, tax data and image data from a tax document;
providing, by the server, a file name to each of the tax return items of the digital tax information, wherein the file name identifies characteristics of the tax return item of the digital tax information including at least one of a type of tax return item, an entity administering the tax return item, a taxpayer identifier, or a tax year associated with the tax return item;
storing, by the server, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns;
Claim 2 and 3: further comprising: receiving, by the processor and from the taxpayer device, the digital tax information comprising information about a taxpayer, tax return items, the tax data and image data from a tax document;
providing, by the processor, a file name to each of the tax return items of the digital tax information, wherein the file name identifies characteristics of the tax return item of the digital tax information including at least one of a type of tax return item, an entity administering the tax return item, a taxpayer identifier, or a tax year associated with the tax return item;
storing, by the processor, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns.
Claims 5 and 6: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, digital tax information comprising information about a taxpayer, tax return items, tax data and image data from a tax document;
providing, by the one or more processors, a file name to each of the tax return items of the digital tax information, wherein the file name identifies characteristics of the tax return item of the digital tax information including at least one of a type of tax return item, an entity administering the tax return item, the taxpayer identifier, or a tax year associated with the tax return item;
storing, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information and the file name of each tax return item of the digital tax information in data regions in a tax document collection data unit of a memory and in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system, wherein the tax document collection data format enables the tax preparation system to receive the digital tax information and automatically prepare one or more tax returns..
Claim 7: further comprising: detecting, by the one or more processors, in tax data in the taxpayer account a type of the tax data, a format of the tax data, a location of the tax data within a tax document and value ranges of the tax data;
recognizing and interpreting the tax data based on a format of the tax data being in a tax document collection data format;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the taxpayer has an account at a financial institution based on the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the tax data includes activity on accounts in a current tax year such that the tax data is used in the current tax year;
obtaining, by the one or more processors, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
grouping, by the one or more processors, the list of the prior tax return items based on at least one of tax return item type, institution type, tax return item name, or institution name;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, the list of the prior tax return items for display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device; and
providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, a reminder to obtain the tax return items for a current year that correspond to the list of the prior tax return items, in order to supplement digital tax information in the taxpayer account.
Claim 21: detecting, by the server, in the tax data a type of the tax data, a format of the tax data, a location of the tax data within the tax document and value ranges of the tax data,
wherein the tax preparation system recognizes and interprets the tax data based on the format of the tax data being in the tax document collection data format;
determining, by the server, that the taxpayer has an account at a financial institution based on the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges
determining, by the server, that the tax data includes activity on accounts in a current tax year such that the tax data is used in the current tax year;
obtaining, by the server, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
grouping, by the server, the list of the prior tax return items based on at least one of tax return item type, institution type, tax return item name, or institution name;
providing, by the server and to the taxpayer device, the list of the prior tax return items for display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device;
providing, by the server and to the taxpayer device on the GUI, a reminder to obtain the tax return items for a current year that correspond to the list of the prior tax return items, in order to supplement the digital tax information.
Claim 4: detecting, by the processor, in the tax data a type of the tax data, a format of the tax data, a location of the tax data within the tax document and value ranges of the tax data,
wherein the tax preparation system recognizes and interprets the tax data based on the format of the tax data being in the tax document collection data format;
determining, by the processor, that the taxpayer has an account at a financial institution based on the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges;
determining, by the processor, that the tax data includes activity on accounts in a current tax year such that the tax data is used in the current tax year;
obtaining, by the processor, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
grouping, by the processor, the list of the prior tax return items based on at least one of tax return item type, institution type, tax return item name, or institution name;
providing, by the processor and to the taxpayer device, the list of the prior tax return items for display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device;
providing, by the processor and to the taxpayer device on the GUI, a reminder to obtain the tax return items for a current year that correspond to the list of the prior tax return items, in order to supplement the digital tax information.
Claim 7: further comprising: detecting, by the one or more processors, in tax data in the taxpayer account a type of the tax data, a format of the tax data, a location of the tax data within a tax document and value ranges of the tax data;
recognizing and interpreting the tax data based on a format of the tax data being in a tax document collection data format;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the taxpayer has an account at a financial institution based on the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the tax data includes activity on accounts in a current tax year such that the tax data is used in the current tax year;
obtaining, by the one or more processors, a list of prior tax return items from a prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
grouping, by the one or more processors, the list of the prior tax return items based on at least one of tax return item type, institution type, tax return item name, or institution name;
providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, the list of the prior tax return items for display on a graphical user interface (GUI) of the taxpayer device; and
providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, a reminder to obtain the tax return items for a current year that correspond to the list of the prior tax return items, in order to supplement digital tax information in the taxpayer account.
Claim 8: wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises at least one of obtaining the list of the prior tax return items by automatically detecting the tax return items from the prior year tax return or
obtaining the list of the prior tax return items from a tax return preparation system.
Claim 27: wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises obtaining the list of the prior tax return items by automatically detecting the tax return items from the prior year tax return
Claim 28: wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises obtaining the list of the prior tax return items from a tax return preparation system.
Claim 5: wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises at least one of obtaining the list of the prior tax return items by automatically detecting the tax return items from the prior year tax return or
obtaining the list of the prior tax return items from a tax return preparation system.
Claim 8: wherein the obtaining the list of the prior tax return items comprises at least one of obtaining the list of the prior tax return items by automatically detecting the tax return items from the prior year tax return or
obtaining the list of the prior tax return items from a tax return preparation system.
Claim 9: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from a third party system, third party digital tax information;
determining, by the one or more processors, whether the third party digital tax information is relevant to preparing a tax return in the current tax year based on at least one of account type, account number, name, document type, organization, metadata, values, content or date of the third party digital tax information;
deleting, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information not being relevant;
saving, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information being relevant;
assigning, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to at least one of a tax category or to a matching tax item on a list of prior tax return items from the prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
adding, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to the list of the prior tax return items, in response to the third party digital tax information not matching to the prior tax return items on the list of the prior tax return items;
populating, by the one or more processors, a field of a tax form with a subset of tax data and an account at the financial institution, based on the tax data used in the current tax year, the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges; and
generating, by the one or more processors using an automated tax return preparation system, a completed tax return from the third party digital tax information and the tax form.
Claim 21: receiving, by the server and from a third party system, third party digital tax information;
determining, by the server, whether the third party digital tax information is relevant to preparing a tax return in the current tax year based on at least one of account type, account number, name, document type, organization, metadata, values, content or date of the third party digital tax information;
deleting, by the server, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information not being relevant;
saving, by the server, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information being relevant;
assigning, by the server, the third party digital tax information to at least one of a tax category or to a matching tax item on the list of prior tax return items from the prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
adding, by the server, the third party digital tax information to the list of the prior tax return items, in response to the third party digital tax information not matching to the prior tax return items on the list of the prior tax return items;
populating, by the server, a field of a tax form with a subset of the tax data and the account at the financial institution, based on the tax data used in the current tax year, the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges;
generating, by the server using an automated tax return preparation system, a completed tax return from the digital tax information and the tax form;
Claim 6: further comprising: receiving, by the processor and from a third party system, third party digital tax information;
determining, by the processor, whether the third party digital tax information is relevant to preparing a tax return in the current tax year based on at least one of account type, account number, name, document type, organization, metadata, values, content or date of the third party digital tax information;
deleting, by the processor, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information not being relevant;
saving, by the processor, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information being relevant;
assigning, by the processor, the third party digital tax information to at least one of a tax category or to a matching tax item on the list of prior tax return items from the prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
adding, by the processor, the third party digital tax information to the list of the prior tax return items, in response to the third party digital tax information not matching to the prior tax return items on the list of the prior tax return items;
populating, by the processor, a field of a tax form with a subset of the tax data and the account at the financial institution, based on the tax data used in the current tax year, the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges;
generating, by the processor using an automated tax return preparation system, a completed tax return from the digital tax information and the tax form.
Claim 9: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from a third party system, third party digital tax information;
determining, by the one or more processors, whether the third party digital tax information is relevant to preparing a tax return in the current tax year based on at least one of account type, account number, name, document type, organization, metadata, values, content or date of the third party digital tax information;
deleting, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information not being relevant;
saving, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information, in response to the third party digital tax information being relevant;
assigning, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to at least one of a tax category or to a matching tax item on a list of prior tax return items from the prior year tax return of the taxpayer;
adding, by the one or more processors, the third party digital tax information to the list of the prior tax return items, in response to the third party digital tax information not matching to the prior tax return items on the list of the prior tax return items;
populating, by the one or more processors, a field of a tax form with a subset of tax data and an account at the financial institution, based on the tax data used in the current tax year, the type of data, the format of data, the location of data and the value ranges; and
generating, by the one or more processors using an automated tax return preparation system, a completed tax return from the third party digital tax information and the tax form.
Claim 10: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the tax preparer device, at least one of an engagement letter or a tax questionnaire; and
transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, at least one of the engagement letter or the tax questionnaire.
Claim 22: further comprising: receiving, by the server and from the first tax preparer device, at least one of an engagement letter or a tax questionnaire; and
transmitting, by the server and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, at least one of the engagement letter or the tax questionnaire.
Claim 7: further comprising: receiving, by the processor and from the first tax preparer device, at least one of an engagement letter, or a tax questionnaire; and
transmitting, by the processor and to the taxpayer device, at least one of the engagement letter or the tax questionnaire.
Claim 10: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second tax preparer device, at least one of an engagement letter or a tax questionnaire; and
transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, at least one of the engagement letter or the tax questionnaire.
Claim 11: further comprising receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, at least one of an adjustment of tax data or an adjustment of a field of a tax form.
Claim 23: further comprising receiving, by the server and from the GUI of the taxpayer device, at least one of an adjustment of the tax data or an adjustment of the field of the tax form.
Claim 8: further comprising receiving, by the processor and from the taxpayer device, at least one of an adjustment of the tax data or an adjustment of the field of the tax form
Claim 11: further comprising receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, at least one of an adjustment of tax data or an adjustment of a field of a tax form.
Claim 12: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, a second restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the tax preparer device from accessing the second taxpayer account in the database; and
automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving both the restriction request and the second restriction request, the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device with the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device to restrict the tax preparer device from accessing the second taxpayer account in the database.
Claim 21: receiving, by the server, a restriction request from at least one of the GUI of the taxpayer device or the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information;
disassociating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
Claims 1 and 18: receiving, by the processor, a restriction request from at least one of the taxpayer device or the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the tax payer account and the digital tax information;
disassociating, by the processor in the access table, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the tax payer account with the digital tax information in the tax document collection data unit;
Claim 12: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, a second restriction request from the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing a taxpayer account in the database;
automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving both the first restriction request and the second restriction request, the taxpayer identifier of the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer identifier of the first tax preparer device to restrict the first tax preparer device from accessing the taxpayer account in the database.
Claim 13: further comprising: providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, a button next to a list of the prior tax return items and next to a financial institution;
receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second taxpayer device, a selection of the button indicating that one or more of the prior tax return items or the financial institution is no longer applicable in the current tax year; and
removing, by the one or more processors, the item from the list of the prior tax return items, in response to obtaining the tax return item for the current tax year that corresponds to the prior tax return item.
Claim 25: providing, by the server and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, a button next to the list of the prior tax return items and next to the financial institution; and
receiving, by the server and from the GUI of the taxpayer device, a selection of the button indicating that one or more of the prior tax return items or the financial institution is no longer applicable in the current tax year; and
removing, by the server, the item from the list of the prior tax return items, in response to obtaining the tax return item for the current year that corresponds to the prior tax return item.
Claim 10: further comprising: providing, by the processor and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, a button next to the list of the prior tax return items and next to the financial institution; and
receiving, by the processor and from the taxpayer device, a selection of the button indicating that one or more of the prior tax return items or the financial institution is no longer applicable in the current tax year; and
removing, by the processor, the item from the list of the prior tax return items, in response to obtaining the tax return item for the current year that corresponds to the prior tax return item.
Claim 13: further comprising: providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, a button next to a list of the prior tax return items and next to a financial institution;
receiving, by the one or more processors and from the taxpayer device, a selection of the button indicating that one or more of the prior tax return items or the financial institution is no longer applicable in the current tax year; and
removing, by the one or more processors, the item from the list of the prior tax return items, in response to obtaining the tax return item for the current tax year that corresponds to the prior tax return item.
Claim 14: further comprising providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, functionality for at least one of signing a tax form, signing an E-File Authorization form for a tax form, paying a tax preparer invoice, formatting digital tax information in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system or making tax payments to tax authorities.
Claim 31: further comprising providing, by the server and to the taxpayer device, functionality for at least one of signing a tax form, signing an E-File Authorization form for the tax form, paying the tax preparer invoice, formatting the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format usable by the tax preparation system or making tax payments to tax authorities.
Claim 11: further comprising providing, by the processor and to the taxpayer device, functionality for at least one of signing a tax form, signing an E-File Authorization form for the tax form, paying the tax preparer invoice, formatting the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format usable by the tax preparation system or making tax payments to tax authorities.
Claim 14: further comprising providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, functionality for at least one of signing a tax form, signing an E-File Authorization form for a tax form, paying a tax preparer invoice, formatting digital tax information in a tax document collection data format usable by a tax preparation system or making tax payments to tax authorities.
Claim 15: further comprising obtaining and storing, by the one or more processors, an internet protocol (IP) address of the second taxpayer device for verification.
Claim 32: further comprising obtaining and storing, by the server, an internet protocol (IP) address of the taxpayer device for later verification.
Claim 12: further comprising obtaining and storing, by the processor, an internet protocol (IP) address of the taxpayer device for later verification.
Claim 15: further comprising obtaining and storing, by the one or more processors, an internet protocol (IP) address of the taxpayer device for verification.
Claim 16: further comprising downloading, by the one or more processors using a document download unit, at least one of digital tax information or a tax return to at least one of the first taxpayer device, the second taxpayer device or the tax preparer device.
Claim 36: further comprising downloading, by the server using a document download unit, at least one of the digital tax information or a tax return to at least one of the taxpayer device, the first tax preparer device or the second tax preparer device.
Claim 13: further comprising downloading, by the processor using a document download unit, at least one of the digital tax information or a tax return to at least one of the taxpayer device, the first tax preparer device or the second tax preparer device
Claim 16: further comprising downloading, by the one or more processors using a document download unit, at least one of digital tax information or a tax return to at least one of the taxpayer device, the first tax preparer device or the second tax preparer device.
Claim 17: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the tax preparer device, at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or estimated tax payment schedule; and
providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule, wherein at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule are automatically generated by a tax return preparation system.
Claim 37: further comprising: receiving, by the server and from the tax preparer, at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or estimated tax payment schedule; and
providing, by the server and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule, wherein the at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule are automatically generated by a tax return preparation system.
Claim 14: further comprising: receiving, by the processor and from the tax preparer, at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or estimated tax payment schedule; and
providing, by the processor and to the taxpayer device, at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule, wherein the at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule are automatically generated by a tax return preparation system.
Claim 17: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second tax preparer device, at least one of a tax preparation fee invoice or estimated tax payment schedule; and
providing, by the one or more processors and to the taxpayer device, at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule, wherein at least one of the tax preparation fee invoice or the estimated tax payment schedule are automatically generated by a tax return preparation system.
Claim 18: wherein the disassociating further comprises at least one of reconfiguring a tax document collection data unit or encrypting digital tax information with a new key.
Claim 39: wherein the restricting the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information further comprises at least one of reconfiguring the tax document collection data unit or encrypting the digital tax information with a new key.
Claim 16: wherein the restricting the first tax preparer device from accessing the digital tax information further comprises at least one of reconfiguring the tax document collection data unit or encrypting the digital tax information with a new key.
Claim 18: wherein the disassociating further comprises at least one of reconfiguring a tax document collection data unit or encrypting digital tax information with a new key.
Claim 19: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the tax preparer device, an identification of the second taxpayer device associated with the tax preparer device;
transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the tax preparer device;
receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second taxpayer device, an acceptance of the software link of the invitation to join; and
associating, by the one or more processors in an access table, the second taxpayer device with the tax preparer device.
Claim 40: further comprising: receiving, by the server and from the first tax preparer device, an identification of one or more taxpayer devices associated with the first tax preparer device;
transmitting, by the server and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the first tax preparer device;
receiving, by the server and from the GUI of the taxpayer device, an acceptance of the software link of the invitation to join;
associating, by the server in the access table, the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer device;
Claim 17: further comprising: receiving, by the processor and from the first tax preparer device, an identification of one or more taxpayer devices associated with the first tax preparer device;
transmitting, by the processor and to the GUI of the taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the first tax preparer device;
receiving, by the processor and from the GUI of the taxpayer device, an acceptance of the software link of the invitation to join;
associating, by the processor in the access table, the taxpayer device with the first tax preparer device;
Claim 19: further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors and from the second tax preparer device, an identification of one or more taxpayer devices associated with the second tax preparer device;
transmitting, by the one or more processors and to the one or more taxpayer devices, a software link of an invitation to join, wherein the software link is associated with the second tax preparer device;
receiving, by the one or more processors and from the one or more taxpayer devices, an acceptance of the software link of the invitation to join; and
associating, by the one or more processors in an access table, the one or more taxpayer devices with the second tax preparer device.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 05/26/2026 have been fully considered, but are not persuasive due to the following reasons:
With respect to the rejection of claims 1 and 3-20 under 35 U.S.C. 101, Applicant arguments are moot in view of the grounds of rejections presented above in this office action. The arguments are addressed to the extent they apply to the amended claims.
Applicant argues “that transmitting a software link of an invitation to a first connection request cannot be performed by a human or be reasonably completed in the human mind. As such, Applicant asserts that "transmitting, by one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request," as recited in the independent claims, provides a technical feature.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Under Step 2A: Prong I, Examiner respectfully notes that claims 1 and 20, as amended, is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data; without significantly more. The series of steps recited in claims 1 and 20, as amended, describe the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data, which is mitigating risk of potential errors and inaccuracy when preparing tax document by being inundated with tax documents and/or delays for the tax preparer and the companies the tax preparer works for in receiving information and signed agreements; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the preparation and processing of a taxpayer’s data by a tax preparer to prepare and complete the taxes of the taxpayer, which is commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. Furthermore, the system limitations, e.g., one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea.
Moreover, Examiner respectfully notes that the claims are first analyzed in the absence of technology to determine if it recites an abstract idea. The additional limitations of technology are then considered to determine if it restricts the claim from reciting an abstract idea. In this case, it is determined that the additional limitations of technology do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea. Furthermore, Examiner respectfully notes that the recited features in the limitations: “transmitting, by one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request; receiving, by the one or more processors, the first connection request from a tax preparer device for the first taxpayer device having a first taxpayer identifier to access a tax preparer account in a database, wherein the tax preparer account is associated with the tax preparer device; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the first taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a first restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing a tax preparer account in the database; automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the tax preparer device for a second tax payer device having a second taxpayer identifier to access the tax preparer account in the database; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; determining, by the one or more processors, that digital tax information in the tax preparer account in the database is relevant to the second taxpayer identifier based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document; formatting, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from the tax document into a data structure; and obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from a plurality of data cells or data regions containing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format formatted in the data structure where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information” are simply making use of a computer and the computer limitations do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea as discussed above under Step 2A-Prong I of the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection.
Hence, Examiner has also considered each and every arguments under Step 2A-Prong I and concludes that these arguments are not persuasive. For example, under Step 2A-Prong I, Examiner considers each and every limitation to determine if the claim recites an abstract idea. In this case, it is determined that the claim recites an abstract idea and the additional limitations of a computer device does not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea. The recited steps, as amended, are abstract in nature as there are no technical/technology improvements as a result of these steps. Thus, the claim recites an abstract idea. Whether the claim integrates the abstract idea into a practical application by providing technical/technology improvements are considered under Step 2A-Prong II.
Applicant argues that “the claim elements, when viewed along with the entirety of the claimed invention, meaningfully integrate the alleged abstract idea (e.g., providing access to digital tax information and tax data) into a specific technological environment of a specific improvement to the way computers operate, embodied in the unique data structure, data format, data cells and data regions similar to the self-referential table. The specification specifically states that storing in such a format in cells or data regions improves the computing speed, efficiency, and accuracy of the computer system.……. Additionally, the claimed invention is directed to a specific improvement to the way computers operate, embodied in the unique data structure, data format, data cells and data regions similar to the self-referential table (e.g., claims 6, 7, 9 and 14).……. Similar to the finding of the Federal Circuit that the district court oversimplified the self- referential component of the claims and discounted the benefits of the claimed invention, Applicant respectfully asserts that the Examiner also oversimplified the importance of the use of a unique data structure, data format, data cells and data regions similar to the self-referential table. The Examiner also discounted the benefits of how the conversion of the format improves interactions with other components of the claimed system.….. The claimed invention includes a practical application by providing the technical functionality of the tax preparer restricting or allowing access to documents by different tax pavers, while all of the documents stay in the same system….In the claimed invention, the tax preparer can restrict taxpayer1 from accessing the documents, and then the tax preparer can allow taxpayer2 to see the documents. The important practical application is that all of the documents stay in the same database. The documents are not transferred to a new taxpayer system and are not transferred to a new CPA system. Also, the tax preparer controls which of the tax payers can see the documents. Dependent claims 3-19 variously depend from independent claim 1. Therefore, Applicant asserts that claims 3-19 are eligible for at least the same reasons as set forth above, in addition to their own eligible features.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Under Step 2A: Prong II, as previously discussed in Final Office Action- dated 03/23/2026, Examiner respectfully notes that there is no improved technology in simply transmitting, receiving, requesting, accessing, associating, identifying, providing, restricting, disassociating, providing, determining, formatting, obtaining, processing, and outputting data (i.e., taxpayer identifiers, tax preparer account data, tax document collection data, tax information, and etc.). The disclosed invention simply cannot be equated to improvement to technological practices or computers. There is no technical improvement at all. Amended independent claims 1 and 20 recite: “transmitting, by one or more processors and to a first taxpayer device, a software link of an invitation to a first connection request; receiving, by the one or more processors, the first connection request from a tax preparer device for the first taxpayer device having a first taxpayer identifier to access a tax preparer account in a database, wherein the tax preparer account is associated with the tax preparer device; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the first taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a first restriction request from the tax preparer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing a tax preparer account in the database; automatically disassociating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the first restriction request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the first taxpayer identifier of the first taxpayer device to restrict the first taxpayer device from accessing the tax preparer account in the database; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second connection request from the tax preparer device for a second tax payer device having a second taxpayer identifier to access the tax preparer account in the database; automatically associating, by the one or more processors and in response to receiving the second connection request, the tax preparer identifier of the tax preparer device with the second taxpayer identifier of the second taxpayer device; providing, by the one or more processors and to the second taxpayer device, access to the tax preparer account in the database; determining, by the one or more processors, that digital tax information in the tax preparer account in the database is relevant to the second taxpayer identifier based on metadata and content obtained from at least one of optical character recognition or text layer extraction of the digital tax information from the tax document; formatting, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from the tax document into a data structure; and obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital tax information from a plurality of data cells or data regions containing the digital tax information in the tax document collection data format formatted in the data structure where the tax preparation system is able to process the digital tax information;” where, the recited features in the limitations do not disclose a technical solution to technical problem, but simply a business solution. Specifically, the recited steps, as amended, are merely managing/processing data (MPEP 2106.05(d)(II)) and does not result in computer functionality or technical improvement. Thus, Applicant has simply provided a business method practice of preparing and processing taxes (taxpayer identifiers, tax preparer account data, tax document collection data, tax information, and etc.), and no technical solution or improvement has been disclosed.
Additionally, there is no technology/technical improvement as a result of implementing the abstract idea. Unlike Enfish, and as previously discussed in Final Office Action- dated 03/23/2026, the recited limitations in the pending claims simply amount to the abstract idea of providing access to digital tax information and tax data. There is no computer functionality improvement or technology improvement. The claim does not provide a technical solution to a technical problem. If there is an improvement, it is to the abstract idea and not to technology. Moreover, Examiner notes that it is important to keep in mind that an improvement in the judicial exception itself (e.g., recited fundamental economic principle or practice and/or commercial interaction) is not an improvement in technology (See, MPEP 2106.05(a)(II)). Thus, the claim does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application; and these arguments are not persuasive.
Furthermore, the ‘automatically’ features simply amounts to mere automation of manual processes, such as using a generic computer to process an application for financing a purchase, Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Westlake Services, 859 F.3d 1044, 1055, 123 USPQ2d 1100, 1108-09 (Fed. Cir. 2017). Thus, the automation feature is not sufficient to show an improvement in computer-functionality or technology/technical improvements (see MPEP 2106.05(a)(1)). Unlike Enfish, the claim simply makes use of a computer as a tool to apply the abstract idea without transforming the abstract idea into a patent eligible subject matter. The claims, as amended, recite steps at a high level of generality. In addition, all uses of the recited judicial exceptions require such data gathering, inputting and outputting; and, as such, these limitations do not impose any meaningful limits on the claim. The claim simply makes use of a computer/processor as a tool to apply the abstract idea without transforming the abstract idea into a patent eligible subject matter. Thus, these arguments are not persuasive.
Moreover, these steps, as amended, are recited as being performed by one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system are recited at a high level of generality, and are used as a tool to perform the generic computer function of receiving, processing, and outputting data. See MPEP 2106.05(f). Claim 1 and Claim 20, as amended, recites o one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system, which are simply used to perform an abstract idea, as discussed above in Step 2A, Prong I, such that it amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer. See MPEP 2106.05(f). Specifically, the recitation of one or more processors, tax preparer device, first taxpayer device, software link, database, optical character recognition, text layer extraction, second tax payer device, and tax preparation system” in the limitations merely indicates a field of use or technological environment in which the judicial exception is performed. The claims, as amended, merely confines the use of the abstract idea to a particular technological environment; and thus fails to add an inventive concept to the claims. See MPEP 2106.05(h). Even when viewed in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the recited judicial exception into a practical application, and the claim is directed to the judicial exception. Thus, Claims 1 and 3-20 do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Thus, these arguments are not persuasive.
Hence, Examiner respectfully declines Applicant’s request to withdraw the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection of claims 1 and 3-20.
With respect to Applicant’s assertion regarding the nonstautory double patenting rejection of claims 1 and 3--20, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Applicant arguments are moot in view of the grounds of rejections presented above in this office action. Specifically, Examiner respectfully notes that Claims 1 and 3-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 21-23, 25-28, 31-32, 36-37, and 39-40 of U.S. Patent No. 11,238,540, claims 1-8, 10-14, and 16-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,710,192, and claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,148,050. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1 and 3-20 of the instant application are anticipated by patent claims 21-23, 25-28, 31-32, 36-37, and 39-40 of U.S. Patent No. 11,238,540, claims 1-8, 10-14, and 16-18 of U.S. Patent No. 11,710,192, and claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,148,050. Furthermore, Examiner respectfully notes that a timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AlA. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
Hence, Examiner respectfully declines Applicant’s request to withdraw the nonstatutory double patenting rejection of Claims 1 and 3-20.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure are the following:
Eftekhari (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2012/0109792-A1) - “Instant Tax Return Preparation”
Shaw (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2014/0172656-A1) - “System and Method for Acquiring Tax Data for Use in Tax Preparation Software”
Huang (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2014/0244455-A1) - “Presentation of image of source of tax data through tax preparation application”
Ciaramitaro (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2016/0092993-A1) - “Computer readable medium, system, and method of providing a virtual venue for the transfer of taxpayer-specific information”
Fitzgerald (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2017/0270629-A1) - “Taxpayer identity determination through external verification”
Kamat (U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2018/0255006-A1) - “Hybrid conversational chat bot system”
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED H MUSTAFA whose telephone number is (571)270-7978. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 - 5:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, MICHAEL W. ANDERSON can be reached on (571) 270-0508. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MOHAMMED H MUSTAFA/Examiner, Art Unit 3693 /Mike Anderson/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3693
Prosecution Insights