OpenTax
OpenTax is free, open-source tax preparation software for individual filers.
What OpenTax is
OpenTax is free, open-source tax preparation software for individual filers. Its standalone app imports W-2s, 1099s, and broker statements, with OCR processed locally in the browser. It supports Tax Year 2025 and documents federal returns plus 42 state returns, computing federal and state results together. OpenTax produces IRS-ready PDFs for users to download, print, and mail; e-filing is on the roadmap. Computed amounts can be followed back to source documents, IRS citations, and intermediate calculations. The privacy policy says personal and tax data are not collected or transmitted, and return data stays in the user's browser IndexedDB. OpenTax is available on the web, self-hosted, and through an API; developers can use TaxService in Node.js, while the OpenClaw plugin offers 16 tools, REST endpoints, and server-sent event streaming for compatible AI agents. It does not handle business or prior-year returns, multi-state returns, farming income, or foreign income reporting. OpenTax says it is not affiliated with the IRS and is not tax advice.
Good
- Imports W-2s, 1099s, and broker statements.
- OCR runs locally in the browser.
- Federal and 42 state returns are documented.
- Return figures link to sources and calculations.
- Return data stays in browser IndexedDB.
Watch out
- Business and prior-year returns are unsupported.
- Multi-state returns are unsupported.
- E-filing is still on the roadmap.
- Farming and foreign income reporting are not covered.
Who it suits
It suits individual filers preparing a Tax Year 2025 return who want to inspect how figures were calculated. Developers and compatible AI-agent users can also use its API and OpenClaw integration.
Verdict
OpenTax combines document import, traceable calculations, and PDF filing output for individual Tax Year 2025 returns. Check its listed limits before relying on it, and note that it is not tax advice.
Plans and prices
From OpenTax's own pricing page, checked 14 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free forever | Free | No upsells or paywalls · Every feature available to everyone |
The facts
Each one read from OpenTax's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Broker limitation
- Automated broker import is documented for Robinhood CSV and Fidelity PDF; Vanguard, Schwab and E*TRADE support is planned.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Correctness testing
- The trust center reports more than 2,300 automated tests, 20-plus IRS publications and 10 validated scenarios.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Data-loss risk
- Because data remains in the browser, clearing browser data or changing devices can erase progress.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Design objective
- The project design document describes a free-first, open-source filing assistant focused on auditability and explainable calculations.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Deterministic engine
- The rules engine uses pure deterministic functions and stores monetary values as integer cents.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Developer API
- Developers can use TaxService directly in Node.js to create returns, compute results, and trace return lines.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Disclaimer
- OpenTax says it is not affiliated with the IRS and is not tax advice.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Document import
- Users can import W-2s, 1099s and broker statements, with OCR performed locally.checked 14 Oct 2026
- E-filing limitation
- Electronic filing is unavailable; users must use IRS Free File or mail printed returns, with e-file listed as future work.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Explainability
- Computed values include links to source documents, IRS citations and intermediate calculation traces.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Federal forms
- The product supports Form 1040 and schedules including A, B, C, D, E and SE for tax year 2025.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Filing output
- OpenTax generates IRS-ready PDFs to download, print, and mail; e-filing support is described as being on the roadmap.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Guided interview
- The standalone workflow uses a 13-step interview covering income, deductions, credits and dependents.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The OpenClaw plugin provides 16 tools, REST endpoints, and server-sent event streaming for compatible AI agents.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Issue tracker
- The repository's GitHub issues page showed no open issues when opened.checked 14 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository is distributed under the MIT License, allowing use, modification and redistribution subject to its notice.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Local persistence
- Standalone return data is stored in browser IndexedDB and is not transmitted to a server.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Missing workflows
- Form 8606 basis allocation, Form 2210 underpayment safe-harbor analysis and Form 4868 extension filing are not currently prepared.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Multi-state limitation
- A return cannot contain filings for multiple states simultaneously.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Node API
- Developers can import the TaxService class directly in Node.js for return creation, data entry, computation and tracing.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Notable limits
- The limitations page says multi-state returns are unsupported, and e-filing, farming income, foreign income reporting, and business returns are not covered.checked 8 Oct 2026
- OCR limitation
- OCR accuracy varies with document quality, resolution and formatting, so extracted values require review.checked 14 Oct 2026
The company
- Company information
- The reviewed official pages do not state a legal company name, headquarters or founding year.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Maker identity
- The public repository is owned by the GitHub account xavierliwei.checked 14 Oct 2026
