AI-Driven Tax Preparation & Client Portal SaaS

Project Overview:
We are a CPA-led tax firm seeking an experienced development team to build a secure, production-ready tax software platform that combines advanced client portal automation with AI-assisted tax preparation. The platform is intended to function as a commercial SaaS product designed for use by multiple firms. This is not a prototype or proof of concept.

The system must replicate and expand upon the functionality found in platforms such as StanfordTax for client intake and FlyFin or Filed for AI-assisted tax preparation, while remaining compliant with U.S. tax workflows and security standards.

Client Portal Requirements:
The platform must include a secure client portal capable of importing Drake tax software backups and using prior-year data to automatically generate customized document checklists and questionnaires. The system should dynamically create adaptive questionnaires using AI, prefill client information from prior returns, and intelligently detect missing or incorrectly uploaded documents. For example, if a client uploads a 1099 in a W-2 upload section, the system should recognize the mismatch, move the document to the correct category, and notify the client that the required W-2 is still missing.

The portal must track outstanding documents in real time and send automated reminders via email with optional SMS support. Clients must be able to securely upload, preview, and categorize documents, and the system must support multi-year tax records for each client.

AI-Assisted Tax Preparation Requirements:
The platform must include AI tools that analyze uploaded tax documents and extract structured data from common U.S. tax forms including W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, 1098s, brokerage statements, and receipts. The system should categorize income and expenses, suggest potential deductions and credits, flag inconsistencies or missing information, and present all findings in a preparer review dashboard.

The AI component must be assistive only. Human preparers must be able to review, override, and approve all data prior to filing. The system should output clean, structured datasets suitable for export into professional tax software such as Drake, ProSeries, or Lacerte, or via a documented API.

Security and Compliance Requirements:
Security is non-negotiable. The platform must be architected to be SOC 2–ready and align with IRS Publication 4557. Data must be encrypted using AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.2 or higher in transit. The system must include role-based access controls, detailed audit logs, secure document storage, and a fully isolated multi-tenant architecture.

Firm Administration and Workflow Management:
The platform must support multiple firms and multiple preparers within each firm. Administrative functionality should include user roles such as Admin, Preparer, and Reviewer, client assignment workflows, and end-to-end status tracking from intake through filing. Internal notes, messaging, and activity logs must be available to support collaboration and compliance.

Technology Expectations:
We are open to developer recommendations, but expect a modern web-based architecture with a scalable backend, OCR and document classification capabilities, large language model integration, secure cloud hosting, and an API-first design. The system must be built for performance, maintainability, and future expansion.

Deliverables:
The final deliverable must be a production-ready web application with a clean, well-documented codebase. Deployment documentation, API documentation, onboarding support, and a formal handoff are required. An ongoing support and maintenance agreement is optional but preferred.

Ideal Development Team:
We are seeking developers with demonstrated experience building fintech, tax, or accounting software platforms. Experience with AI-driven document processing and a strong understanding of U.S. tax workflows is critical. A security-first mindset and the ability to design scalable SaaS systems are required.

Proposal Requirements:
Proposals must include relevant past projects or demos, a proposed technology stack, a description of the security approach, a development timeline with milestones, an estimated budget range, and details about the team that will be assigned to the project. Generic proposals will not be considered.

Budget:
We are open to serious, market-appropriate bids for a full SaaS platform build. This is a long-term product with commercial intent and ongoing development potential.

If you reply with an automated or generic response or a budget that is unrealistically low I will automatically rule you out as a developer for this project as I can not trust you. Show More