System and method for use of alternating least squares to identify common profiles of tax filers and tailor the tax preparation process based on the profile for the individual tax filer

摘要

A method and system for providing a tax return preparation system with an analytics modules includes matching a user to one or more common user profiles. The analytics module generates a plurality of common profiles by applying an alternating least squares algorithm to a large matrix including data from a large number of previously prepared tax returns. The analytics module matches the user to one or more of the common profiles by comparing data received from the user with the common profiles. The analytics module customizes a tax return preparation process of the user based on the one or more profiles to which the user is matched.