Automated document access regulation system

A method for allowing a taxpayer to maintain digital access control over a remotely stored computer-interpretable tax document collection data unit associated with the taxpayer despite disassociating with a current tax preparer, the tax document collection data unit being used for automatic electronic preparation of an electronic tax return, the method comprising:

• communicating, by a taxpayer client device to a server, a tax document file;
• storing, by the server, the tax document collection data unit associated with the taxpayer;
• transforming, by the server, the tax document collection data unit associated with the taxpayer to include the tax document file, the tax document collection data unit including a plurality of data cells or data regions containing tax data associated with the taxpayer, the data within each data cell or data region of the plurality of data cells or data regions being structured for efficient and accurate processing by a tax return preparation unit configured to automatically generate a tax return for the taxpayer;
• providing, by the server, access to the tax document collection data unit to the taxpayer client device;
• receiving, by the server from the taxpayer client device, an authorization indication to associate the taxpayer with the current tax preparer;
• providing, by the server, access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to a current tax preparer client device by establishing a computer-based link between an account associated with the taxpayer and an account associated with the current tax preparer when the current tax preparer is authorized by the taxpayer;
• receiving, by the server from the taxpayer client device, a deauthorization indication to disassociate the current tax preparer from the taxpayer;
• removing, by the server, access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to the tax preparer client device by removing the computer-based link when the account associated with the taxpayer and the account associated with the tax preparer are no longer linked, and maintaining access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to the taxpayer client device;
• receiving, by the server from the taxpayer client device, an authorization indication to associate the taxpayer with a new tax preparer;
• and
• providing, by the server, access to a client device associated with the new tax preparer by establishing a new computer-based link between the account associated with the taxpayer and an account associated with the new tax preparer when the new tax preparer is authorized by the taxpayer.

A server of an automated document access regulation system for a taxpayer having a current tax preparer, the server comprising:

• a memory configured to store a digital access table and a tax document collection data unit being associated with the taxpayer and including a plurality of data cells or data regions containing tax data associated with the taxpayer, the data within each data cell or data region of the plurality of data cells or data regions being structured for efficient and accurate processing by a tax return preparation unit configured to automatically generate a tax return for the taxpayer;
• and
• a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory and causing the processor to:
• receive a tax document file from a taxpayer client device,
• transform the tax document collection data unit associated with the taxpayer to include the tax document file,
• provide access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to the taxpayer client device and a tax preparer client device by linking an account associated with the taxpayer and an account associated with the current tax preparer in the digital access table when the current tax preparer is authorized by the taxpayer,
• receive, from the taxpayer client device or the tax preparer client device, an indication to disassociate the current tax preparer from the taxpayer,
• remove access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to the tax preparer client device by unlinking the account associated with the taxpayer and the account associated with the current tax preparer when the current tax preparer is deauthorized by the taxpayer, and maintain access to the data of the tax document collection data unit to the taxpayer client device,
• receive, from the taxpayer client device, an authorization indication to associate the taxpayer with a new tax preparer, and
• provide access to a client device associated with a new tax preparer by linking the account associated with the taxpayer and an account associated with the new tax preparer in the digital access table when the new tax preparer is authorized by the taxpayer.