the income tax problem
TRANSCRIPT
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The Income Tax Problem
Income Tax is VERY COMPLEX but somehow income tax websites are EVEN MORE COMPLEX.
a) Compare the index pages of the following three tax websites and point out how can they be improved from a usability perspective.
b) Based upon the three examples provide wire frames for your own tax web site. Please annotate your wire frame with call outs specifying why certain choices were made.
Make a comparison of 1. http://www.irs.gov/ 2. http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/ 3. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/index.htm
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SETTING THE EXPECTATIONS The Income Tax problem
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Expectations This is a complex problem and I cannot possibly entertain all the parameters to evaluate the best solution at this point. However I would try to convey my problem solving techniques and domain knowledge that might persuade you to move my candidature to the next step.
PowerPoint could become a bottleneck as this is the only medium I would be using to express my thoughts and reasons. (even thought in the first instance I thought of including audio and videos as well)
I am not a domain expert therefore few of my assumptions could be wrong. I might setup new ground rules and project boundaries. For this solution, the taxpayer lives in USA
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UNDERSTANDING THE INCOME TAX PROCESS
The Income Tax problem
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Tom Stone, a 27 year old, IT professional living in Rochester, NY
Tax Timeline
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This Process Relays onMemory capability Most humans can only remember some 5-9 distinct
items at any given time period
Recalling capability An average human being is good in recognizing things rather than recalling items or numbers
learning capability Humans usually learns what they want to and I am sure Tax Laws are not a very interesting subject unless you are a tax attorney
Data storing and retrieval capability
Human brain does not store data like computers. There is a good chance that the data might get flawed in the retrieval process due to biasness or other natural factors
Understanding capability It is a common practice for an average human to display ego centric behavior specially when it comes to money. On average, we want to pay as less tax as possible.
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This is what tax software do today
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Why do manual process when we can automate it
• Most of the financial transactions involves some middle agency that stores data
• Storage is very inexpensive
• Internet is more semantic and it ever was
• Standard data formats• Willingness to share
information is increasing• Data security• And probably few more…
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Process after automation
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PROPOSED SOLUTION
The income Tax Problem
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Who uses tax sites
Taxpayer* Tax Consultant Tax Attorney Tax Administration
Motivation to use this site
•Tax Amount•Track Refund
• View updates •Client refunds•Client data•Commission
• Law Changes•Other Updates
• Administration
* = taxpayer lives in USA
Most users/ simple functionalitiesMost users/ simple functionalities Advanced Functionalities Advanced Functionalities Administration FunctionsAdministration Functions
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Problem with the current design
• One solution for all• No clear entry point• Assume people know• Very less automation• No data exchange• Bad interaction design• Many more….
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If this assertion is true
• I would recommend three different entry points for three different user sets (I am assuming administration already have a different entry point)– Entry for taxpayers*– Entry for users who wants to know more– Entry for administration
* = wireframes provided only for taxpayer
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LOW FIDELITY WIREFRAMES TAXPAYERS
The Tax Problem
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LogoLogo18001234567
Advanced functionalities
LoginLogin
Register | Forget Password
username
Password
File Taxes Track Refund
Enter SSN
Track RefundTrack Refund
Welcome to the tax site
User logs in
User logs in
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Advanced functionalities
888-88-888
Enter your SSN
Know Your TaxKnow Your TaxUser click the button User click
the button
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LogoLogo18001234567
Advanced functionalities
888-88-888
Enter your SSN
Know Your TaxKnow Your Tax
Calculating…
Fetching Income details…
Fetching mortgage details…
Fetching Expense Details…
Calculating rebates…
Calculating tax…
Software talks to various agencies and
fetch the data
Software talks to various agencies and
fetch the data
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LogoLogo18001234567
Advanced functionalities
888-88-888
Enter your SSN
Know Your TaxKnow Your Tax
Your Rebate is $1264.75 Confirm Amount | View Calculation
This is the amount IRS will deposit in your bank account no: 333####6564, Citibank (change)
Tax/refund
amount is displayed
Tax/refund
amount is displayed
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LOW FIDELITY WIREFRAME ADVANCED USERS
The Tax Problem
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Basic Functionalities
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