Patent ID: 7565312

Claim:
A computerized method for obtaining a tax professional signature on a tax return comprising: preparing using a client computer an electronic tax return, said electronic tax return prepared by a taxpayer using a self-preparation product on said client computer; prompting said taxpayer from said self-preparation product to select a signature service option; receiving at said self-preparation product said taxpayer's selection of said signature service option; connecting said client computer to an online tax preparation system; transferring said electronic tax return from said client computer to said online tax preparation system; storing said electronic tax return at said online tax preparation system; transferring said electronic tax return from said online tax preparation system to a retail tax preparation system; providing a tax professional with access to said electronic tax return using said retail tax preparations system to permit said tax professional to review and sign said electronic tax return as tax preparer; and filing said electronic tax return signed by said tax professional as tax preparer.