Founder & Developer
Software Engineer — Ex-Google · Ex-Waymo · Healthcare Tech
I've always been a DIY tax filer. As a software engineer, I modeled my taxes in spreadsheets for years. But spreadsheets are incredibly hard to maintain as the tax code is constantly changing, and modeling how state taxes interact with federal rules is a massive headache. More often than not, I found myself giving up on the what-if analyses I wanted to run, simply because implementing them in a spreadsheet was too difficult.
Even though tax laws are public domain, the engines that calculate them are proprietary. While many volunteer-led spreadsheets and calculators exist — and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude — maintaining them is tough. As a result, community models are rarely comprehensive, particularly for state taxes.
My search for a solution led me to PolicyEngine. It is the first open-source tax engine that is truly comprehensive, covering federal and all 50 states. Discovering it was a turning point.
I built TaxVant to bring this powerful engine to life through a precision playground designed for DIY users. But TaxVant is just one take on the possibilities. I hope and expect to see more apps built on PolicyEngine, turning it into the open standard for tax modeling so that more volunteers join in to maintain and improve it for everyone.
To ensure the highest accuracy, TaxVant's calculations are powered by the open-source PolicyEngine. Our modifications to calculations are open-source and inspectable on GitHub.
TaxVant is an educational simulation tool for informational purposes only. Estimates do not constitute professional tax preparation, financial planning, or investment advice. Always consult a certified tax professional before executing financial planning strategies.