TaxlyLocal-First AI Tax Preparation
A local-first macOS desktop and web tax preparation platform with a 35-form federal engine, 9 state calculators, a live Gemini voice advisor, a 6-agent review pipeline, and a 13-form IRS AcroForm PDF packet generator.
Built with Tauri v2, Rust, React 19, TypeScript, Next.js, Tailwind CSS v4, Google Gemini Live, Anthropic Claude, pdf-lib, pdf.js, Tesseract OCR, Vitest, Cloudflare Workers.
35 Forms
Federal tax engine covering TY2025 and TY2026 rules, 9 state calculators, and 13 bundled IRS AcroForm PDFs
1,556 Tests
1,389 tax-core unit and persona tests plus 167 desktop marshalling, security, and tool-parity tests
Local-First
Plain-JSON working directory on disk, macOS Keychain key storage, and consent-gated PII redaction before any AI call
What it is
Taxly is a local-first tax preparation app built on Tauri v2 (Rust backend) and React 19, backed by a pure TypeScript tax engine with 1,556 automated tests across Tax Years 2025 and 2026. All return files stay in a plain-JSON folder the user picks on their own disk, API keys live in the macOS Keychain, and any optional AI or voice feature is gated by an explicit IRC Section 7216-style consent modal that strips SSNs, EINs, and bank routing numbers before a prompt leaves the machine. Users can choose Document-Prep Mode to generate a personalized CPA handoff checklist or Full-Service Mode to prepare their return across 8 guided sections with a real-time bidirectional Gemini Live voice advisor (Alex), a 3-tier PDF document importer, and a 6-agent review pipeline.
The problem
Commercial tax software forces filers to upload every W-2, 1099, and SSN to a vendor cloud, locks their return in a proprietary format, and hides the underlying tax math inside a black box. Self-employed filers with multiple Schedule C businesses, regular-method Form 8829 home offices, self-employed health insurance, and QBI carryforwards also hit edge cases where naive calculators drop statutory reductions.
What I built
I built an open, auditable TypeScript tax engine covering 35 federal forms and worksheets (including per-spouse Schedule SE, regular and simplified Form 8829, IRC Section 162(l) Form 7206 self-employed health insurance with bounded Pub 974 PTC iteration, and per-business Form 8995 QBI reductions and loss carryforwards) alongside 9 state calculators. The Tauri desktop app pairs 3-tier document parsing (AcroForm fields, pdf.js text extraction, and local Tesseract OCR) with 22 structured tax tools shared between text chat and the Gemini Live voice advisor. At export, the app fills 13 official IRS AcroForm PDFs, writes a line-by-line Free File Fillable Forms copy guide, or exports a complete CPA review packet.
What happened
Live at nex-tax.nexai-rushes.workers.dev with the macOS Apple Silicon desktop installer (v0.1.0 DMG) available for direct download and on GitHub Releases, verified by 1,389 tax-core tests across 20 taxpayer personas and 167 desktop suite tests.
What it changed
- Gives self-employed filers and households an auditable, local-first alternative to cloud tax software
- Supports three real filing paths out of the box: Free File Fillable Forms e-file copy, print-and-mail IRS PDFs, or a structured CPA handoff packet
- Keeps sensitive tax identifiers off third-party servers with automatic client-side redaction
Who it fits
- Self-employed consultants and sole proprietors with Schedule C businesses, home offices, and QBI deductions
- Households preparing TY2025 or TY2026 federal and state returns who want full ownership of their files
- Taxpayers using Document-Prep Mode to assemble a complete, verified binder for their CPA
- Pure TypeScript tax engine modeling per-spouse Schedule SE, regular Form 8829 home office carryovers, Form 7206 SEHI with bounded Form 8962 PTC iteration, and Form 8995 QBI statutory reductions
- Unified desktop marshaller (buildEngineInput) feeding the live summary, 6-agent review pipeline, voice/chat tools, and PDF export from one source
- 3-tier document import pipeline (AcroForm extraction, pdf.js text + AI parsing, and local Tesseract OCR) with 10 MB size caps and prototype-pollution guards
- macOS Keychain integration and strict path-traversal containment inside the Tauri v2 Rust backend
- Automated filling of 13 official IRS AcroForm PDFs plus a line-by-line Free File Fillable Forms companion guide
Want something like this built?
Bring the job that eats your week. Step 1 is a free 15-minute fit call. Step 2 is the AI Staff Assessment, $500, a written assessment you keep. Step 3 is your first hire at a published price, or you take the assessment and stop.