Efficient work flow system and method for preparing tax returns

Abstract

A processor-based method for preparing a tax return using multiple service providers. The method includes receiving at a first service provider an image file that includes a plurality of data values and assigning at the first service provider the image file to a form having a plurality of predefined field names, wherein each of the plurality data values belong to one of the plurality of predefined field names. The method also includes receiving at a second service provider the image file and an input form having a plurality of input fields corresponding to the plurality of predefined field names and associating at the second service provider the plurality of data values from the image file with the plurality of input fields.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when read by a processor, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an electronic source document containing a tax document;   receiving a form type corresponding to the tax document;   extracting a plurality of data values from the tax document to create a reference page; and   populating a tax return with the plurality of data values; and   checking the tax return using the reference page.   
   
   
       12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the tax document is selected from a group consisting of a W-2 document, a 1065 document, a 1098 document, a 1099 document, a K-1 document, a schedule C document, a schedule D document, a deductions document, a credit document, and a taxes paid/received document. 
   
   
       13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the form type is selected from a group consisting of a W-2 form, a 1065 form, a 1098 form, a 1099 form, a K-1 form, a schedule C form, a schedule D form, a deductions form, a credit form, and a taxes paid/received form. 
   
   
       14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11  wherein each of the plurality of data values belong to one of a plurality of predefined field names corresponding to the form type. 
   
   
       15 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 14  wherein each of the plurality of predefined field names is selected from a group consisting of income, expenses, gains, losses, deductions, taxes refunded, taxes paid, and credits. 
   
   
       16 . A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when read by a processor, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a tax document having a plurality of data values;   placing a reference adjacent to some each of the plurality of data values;   extracting the plurality of data values that are adjacent to the references to create a reference page; and   creating a tax return using the plurality of data values; and   checking the tax return using the reference page.   
   
   
       17 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16  further comprising selecting a form type corresponding to the tax document. 
   
   
       18 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the placing the reference adjacent to each of the plurality of data values is performed by a first service provider. 
   
   
       19 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the extracting the plurality of data values that are adjacent to the references is performed by a second service provider. 
   
   
       20 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the creating the tax return using the plurality of data values is performed by a third service provider. 
   
   
       21 . A processor-based method for preparing a tax return using multiple service providers comprising:
 receiving, at a computer, an image file that includes a plurality of data values;   assigning, at the computer, the image file and a first tax form from an electronic tax return document to a first service provider, the first tax form having a plurality of first input fields;   assigning, at the computer, the image file and a second tax form from the electronic tax return document to a second service provider, the second tax form having a plurality of second input fields that are different from the plurality of first input fields;   receiving, at the first service provider, the image file and the first tax form;   receiving, at the second service provider, the image file and the second tax form;   populating the plurality of first input fields with data values from the image file using the first service provider;   populating the plurality of second input fields with data values from the image file using the second service provider;   allowing the first service provider and the second service provider to simultaneously populate the electronic tax return document; and   preparing, at the computer, a single tax return by combining the populated first and second input fields.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein populating the plurality of first input fields with data values includes inputting a data value into each of the plurality of first input fields and wherein populating the plurality of second input fields with data values includes inputting a data value into each of the plurality of second input fields. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the image file includes a plurality of source documents. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the plurality of data values is selected from a group consisting of income, expenses, gains, losses, deductions, taxes refunded, taxes paid, and credits. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first tax form and the second tax form are selected from a group consisting of a W-2 form, a 1065 form, a 1098 form, a 1099 form, a K-1 form, a schedule C form, a schedule D form, a deductions form, a credit form, and a taxes paid/received form.