Intuit, Inc.

Sasha Mikhael Perez

Gang Wang

Michael J Graves

Arien C Ferrell

Kevin M McCluskey

Ronald Jason Char

Jennifer Lynn Keenan

Alex G Balazs

John Brian Moss

A system for explaining tax questions for an electronic tax return preparation program includes a computing device having a tax logic agent and a user interface controller. The computing device executes the tax logic agent, which analyzes a completeness graph to identify a required variable. The tax logic agent also determines whether an explanation asset is indexed to the required variable in the completeness graph, and sends an identity of the required variable to a user interface controller. The user interface controller generates a tax question corresponding to the required variable. When the tax logic agent determines that an explanation asset is indexed to the required variable in the completeness graph, the computing device presents the tax question and the explanation asset. When an explanation asset is not indexed to the required variable in the completeness graph, the computing device presents the tax question without the explanation asset.

Methods, systems and computer program products for generating and presenting explanations for tax questions

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

Computerized tax return preparation system and computer generated user interfaces for tax topic completion status modifications

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

Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for preparing a tax return in which tax questions may be generated and presented to a user in an ad hoc manner. A tax system includes a computing device executing a tax program. The tax program can display a plurality of user interface presentations, such as interview or question screens, with tax questions asking the user to provide tax data related to a taxpayer for preparing a tax return for the taxpayer. The tax program allows the user to skip a tax question on a user interface presentation, and proceed with subsequent user interface presentations. When the tax program determines that a response to the skipped tax questions is required, the tax program dynamically generates a skipped tax question user interface presentation with the skipped tax question and presents it to the user.

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Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Sasha Mikhael Perez