Mobile Tax Return Data Synchronization and Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accountants face difficulties in tracking and accessing tax return status remotely, leading to diminished responsiveness and customer service issues due to limited access to tax preparation programs and specialized knowledge, especially during tax season.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows tax return data to be accessed and managed via mobile communication devices, enabling accountants and clients to receive and send electronic messages related to tax returns, even when away from their primary computer, through synchronization with a host computer over wireless networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If accountants use traditional tax preparation programs on fixed computers, then they can access tax return data and prepare returns, but they cannot access this data remotely when away from their desks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a mobile replica of the tax preparation environment by synchronizing tax return data from the accountant's primary computer to a mobile communication device. This allows the accountant to access and interact with tax return data on the mobile device as if it were the original computer-based system, resolving the contradiction between fixed-location access and remote accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a synchronization mechanism as an intermediary between the accountant's primary computer and mobile device. This intermediary component enables data transfer and maintains consistency across different platforms, allowing remote access without requiring the accountant to physically be at their desk.
2Productivity
If accountants are away from their computers during tax season, then they can handle other tasks or travel, but they cannot respond to client inquiries about tax returns
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms the static, location-bound tax preparation workflow into a dynamic system that can adapt to the accountant's movement. By enabling access to tax return data on mobile devices, the accountant can respond to client inquiries at any location and time, maintaining productivity while reducing client wait time.
3Loss of information
If clients directly access tax preparation programs, then they can view their own tax return information, but they lack the specialized knowledge to interpret tax return data
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables clients to independently access their own tax return information through mobile devices without requiring accountant intervention. Clients can view their tax return status and data anytime, reducing the information gap while the system manages the complexity of data presentation.
Data Source
AI summary
Sending electronic messages related to a tax return from a mobile communication device of an accountant or client. Computers having tax preparation programs that are utilized prepare tax returns are synchronized with a host computer. A browser executes on a mobile communication device and a web application on the second computer executes to display a client list. A client is selected, and the web application presents an interface including tax return data of the selected client on the mobile communication device. The interface includes an icon or object that when selected generates a message window that may be at least partially automatically populated. A message may be typed in the window and sent from the mobile communication device. For example, the accountant may send a self-addressed message to a computer utilized to prepare the tax return, or the client may send the accountant a message.