A status and workflow management system is provided, including a tax return preparation intake mechanism and computer systems for use by responsible persons responsible for respective parts of processing of a given individual tax return preparation project. A computer screen providing mechanism generates for each responsible person a work flow and status screen, so that a given responsible person is provided a work flow and status screen comprising information pertaining to the given responsible person and according to the given responsible person's personnel type. A task display generator displays to the given responsible person on his or her screen tasks to which he or she has been assigned. A task update mechanism updates tasks on the screen of the given responsible person in accordance with a sequence of workflow steps, to indicate when a given task is satisfied and to update tasks on the screen of a next assigned responsible person in the work flow to indicate a new unsatisfied task in accordance with a next workflow step.