Intuit Inc.
Computer implemented methods systems and articles of manufacture for cross-field validation during preparation of electronic tax return

Abstract:

Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture detecting inconsistent electronic tax return data. In a tax return preparation application in which a tax logic agent and user interface controller share a data store, and the tax logic agent including or executing a cross-field validation engine is separate from or loosely coupled to a user interface controller, the tax logic agent reads runtime data of the electronic tax return from the data store, and the validation engine compares runtime data cross-field rule conditions. A cross-field rule having a condition that is not satisfied by the runtime data is identified, and a non-binding suggestion is generated by the tax logic agent and received by the user interface controller, which generates an interview screen concerning the detected inconsistency for display to the user.