System and method for allocating charges away from a tax account

Abstract

A transaction processing system suitable for processing a merchant transaction includes a computer having a processor, a memory, a plurality of connections over a network for receiving and settling the merchant transaction; and a separator module operative to separate funds associated with the merchant transaction. The separator module further includes a revenue settlement module operative to settle a revenue portion of the merchant transaction in favor of a first account accessible over the network, the first account being associated with the merchant; a tax settlement module operative to settle the tax portion associated with the merchant transaction in favor of a second account accessible over the network, the second account being different than the first account; and a fee resolution module operative to resolve fees associated with operation of the tax settlement module, such that an amount equal to the tax portion is settled in favor of the second account.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A transaction processing system suitable for processing a merchant transaction, the system comprising:
 a computer having a processor, a memory, a first connection over a network for receiving the merchant transaction, and further connections over the network for settling the merchant transaction; and   a separator module comprising code which, when executed in the processor, configures the processor to separate funds associated with the merchant transaction received over the first connection, the separator module including:
 a revenue settlement module operative to configure the processor to settle a revenue portion of the merchant transaction in favor of a first account accessible over the network, the first account being associated with the merchant, wherein the revenue portion excludes a tax portion of the merchant transaction; 
 a tax settlement module operative to configure the processor to settle the tax portion associated with the merchant transaction in favor of a second account accessible over the network, the second account being different than the first account; and 
 a fee resolution module operative to configure the processor to resolve at least one fee associated with operation of the tax settlement module, such that an amount equal to the tax portion is settled in favor of the second account. 
   
     
     
         2 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fee resolution module is configured to appropriate funds from an alternative source equal to the at least one fee; and
 augment the second account with the appropriated funds in the event that the at least one fee is drawn from either the tax portion or the second account.   
     
     
         3 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 2 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         4 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fee resolution module is configured to:
 isolate the tax portion from being subject to a disbursement of the at least one fee during operation of the tax settlement module; and   discharge the at least one fee by either notifying a requester of the at least one fee to draw the at least one fee from an alternative source or by providing the requester with the fee from the alternative source.   
     
     
         5 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 4 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         6 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fee resolution module is configured to determine, prior to operation of the tax settlement module, a fee resolution estimate representing an amount estimated to be associated with operation of the tax settlement module;
 appropriate funds equal to the fee resolution estimate from an alternative source; and   augment the tax portion with the appropriated funds prior to a disbursement of the at least one fee.   
     
     
         7 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 6 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         8 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fee resolution module is configured to monitor the second account for a predetermined period of time after processing the merchant transaction; and
 augment the second account with funds appropriated from an alternative source equal to any fees deducted from the second account after processing the merchant transaction.   
     
     
         9 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 8 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         10 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , further configured to settle, by the revenue settlement module, the revenue portion of a plurality of merchant transactions simultaneously in a batch. 
     
     
         11 . The transaction processing system as in  claim 1 , further configured to settle, by the tax settlement module, the tax portion of a plurality of merchant transactions simultaneously in a batch. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a transaction processing system suitable for processing a merchant transaction, the system including a computer having a processor, a memory, a first connection over a network for receiving the merchant transaction, and further connections over the network for settling the merchant transaction, and a separator module comprising code which, when executed in the processor, configures the processor to separate funds associated with the merchant transaction received over the first connection, the method comprising:
 settling, by the separator module executing in the processor, a revenue portion of the merchant transaction in favor of a first account accessible over the network, the first account being associated with the merchant, wherein the revenue portion excludes a tax portion of the merchant transaction;   settling, by the separator module executing in the processor, the tax portion associated with the merchant transaction in favor of a second account accessible over the network, the second account being different than the first account; and   resolving, by the separator module executing in the processor, at least one fee associated with operation of the tax settlement module, such that an amount equal to the tax portion is settled in favor of the second account.   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12 , further comprising appropriating, by the separator module executing in the processor, funds from an alternative source equal to the at least one fee; and
 augmenting the second account with the appropriated funds in the event that the at least one fee is drawn from either the tax portion or the second account.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 Isolating, by the separator module executing in the processor, the tax portion from being subject to a disbursement of the at least one fee during operation of the tax settlement module; and   discharging, by the separator module executing in the processor, the at least one fee by either notifying a requester of the at least one fee to draw the at least one fee from an alternative source or by providing the requester with the fee from the alternative source.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the alternative source is at least one of the revenue portion, the first account, and a predetermined third account. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the separator module executing in the processor, prior to operation of the tax settlement module, a fee resolution estimate representing an amount estimated to be associated with operation of the tax settlement module;
 appropriating funds equal to the fee resolution estimate from an alternative source; and   augmenting the tax portion with the appropriated funds prior to a disbursement of the at least one fee.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising monitoring, by the separator module executing in the processor, the second account for a predetermined period of time after processing the merchant transaction; and
 augmenting the second account with funds appropriated from an alternative source equal to any fees deducted from the second account after processing the merchant transaction.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising settling, by the separator module executing in the processor, the revenue portion of a plurality of merchant transactions simultaneously in a batch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising settling, by the separator module executing in the processor, the tax portion of a plurality of merchant transactions simultaneously in a batch.