# US 7,769,645 B1 · Tax return outsourcing and systems for protecting data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,769,645 B1 - Document ID: US7769645B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/609,033 - Filed: 2003-06-27 - Granted: 2010-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2002-11-25 - Assignees: XCM Development, LLC - Inventors: Mark R. Albrecht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7769645B1 ## CPC - G06Q 40/02: Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance (credit or loans G06Q40/03) - G06Q 40/12: Accounting - G06Q 40/123: {Tax preparation or submission} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A financial services outsourcing method or system facilitates a direct service provider's ability to outsource financial services to numerous ultimate clients. The financial services are outsourced to an outsourcing group abroad. Ultimate client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials are loaded onto a remotely accessible part of a host server located in the United States. The host server provides access to a remote client computer of information concerning the ultimate client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials. The access may be limited to limited screen shot access. Outsourced personnel are retained to perform financial service projects (e.g., prepare individual tax returns) for ultimate clients of direct financial services firms. The outsourced personnel perform the financial service projects while located outside the United States. The status of the financial service project is monitored and reported. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A financial services outsourcing method for facilitating outsourcing of tax return preparation services for numerous clients on behalf of a direct service provider serving the numerous clients, the financial services being outsourced to a given outsourcing group, the clients comprising a first set of clients in a first country, having tax return filing obligations for the first country, and comprising a second set of clients in a second country having tax return filing obligations for the second country, the method comprising: for the direct service provider, loading, onto a remotely accessible part of a host server, client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials, the host server providing access to a remote computer client of information concerning the client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials; providing outsourced personnel with limited screen shot access to the host server connected through a remote limited access client located outside the first and second countries, wherein the direct service provider has control of the host server and the client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials pertaining to a given tax return loaded thereon; preparing tax returns for the clients of the direct service provider by the outsourced personnel, the outsourced personnel located outside the first and second countries and utilizing the limited screen shot access of the client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials on the host server; and monitoring and reporting to the direct service provider a status of the tax return preparation during the tax return preparation performed by the outsourced personnel, wherein the direct service provider can obtain a status report in response to a status change occurring with the tax return preparation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tax return preparation services comprise individual tax return preparation services. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the tax returns are outsourced through an intermediary firm to the outsourced personnel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, further comprising the intermediary firm interacting with the outsourced personnel through use of a servicing computer system, and interacting with plural direct service providers through use of the servicing computer system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the direct service provider comprise an accounting firm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the host server comprises a CITRIX server. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the host server comprises an ASP server running tax software for use by plural independent direct service providers provided with access to the ASP server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the host server comprises an ASP server running tax software for use by plural independent direct service providers provided with access to the ASP server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding reference materials comprise image files of physical reference materials. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the client specific financial files and corresponding reference materials comprise tax filer specific tax file and image files. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising loading onto the remotely accessible part of the host server tax preparation software. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the outsourced personnel prepare tax returns while located in India. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the direct service provider interviewing a tax filer and obtaining supporting documentation for the tax filer's tax return. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according claim 13, wherein the direct service provider comprises an accounting firm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the supporting documentation comprises last season tax return as filed, receipt, and summary information regarding finances of the tax filer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, further comprising the direct service provider setting up a tax file compatible with a given tax software package, and rendering the supporting documentation electronic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein rendering the supporting documentation electronic comprises scanning supporting documents into image files.