Column Tax with Gavin Nachbar | E349

Enabling tax solutions where you need them.

In this episode, Jason Pereira discusses with Gavin Nachbar, CEO and Co-founder of Column Tax, about how they are revolutionizing tax filing by embedding tax services within financial applications. Gavin explains the origins of Column Tax, its mission to simplify tax filing for Americans, and the innovative approach of using API integrations to streamline the process. The conversation also delves into the challenges of tax filing, particularly for self-employed individuals, and the potential future of real-time tax management and planning.

Episode Highlights:

00:10: Introduction of the podcast and guest Gavin Nachbar, CEO of Column T ax, discussing their mission to simplify tax filing.

00:28: Gavin introduces Column T ax and its goal to make tax filing effortless in the US through app integration.

01:03: Gavin shares the origin story of Column T ax and personal experiences with tax complexities.

02:02: Discussing the motivation behind addressing tax problems for users and reducing complexity with tax APIs.

03:08: Explanation of partnering with companies for embedding tax services within existing financial apps.

04:16: Examples of Column T ax's partnerships and their benefits for mobile banking and self employment sectors.

05:20: Discussion on the competitive landscape and the approach of being an API utility.

06:15: Workflow examples for mobile banking and self-employed users integrating Column T ax services.

06:59: Explanation of data integration steps and the challenges of establishing connections with data sources.

09:23: Average filing time and how Column T ax helps in simplifying tax processes for users.

11:07: Discussion on future aims of Column T ax for year-round tax optimization and planning.

13:33: Real-time tax status check and planning for a comprehensive financial overview.

14:09: Challenges around education and transparency in tax codes and deductions.

17:23: Identifying eligibility and complexity in tax credit benefits as a challenge to address.

19:07: Addressing the challenges in determining when a product is ready for market release.

19:46: Highlighting the collaborative and motivated professional team as a key driving factor for success.

Key Points:

  • Column T ax aims to simplify tax filing by embedding tax services within existing financial apps, saving time and reducing complexity for users.

  • The company's API-first approach allows financial institutions to integrate tax services seamlessly, enhancing user experience.

  • There is a significant opportunity in providing real-time tax status and planning, especially for self employed individuals.

  • The challenge of tax filing stems from the complexity of tax codes and the inefficiencies in data collection and management.

Tweetable Quotes:

  • "We're on a mission to make doing your taxes no longer a thing in the US."

  • "We can endure the pain, chew the glass, and save others from it."

  • "In today's world, tax filing should be API-first."

  • "You have to be a great PDF company first before you can do other data connections."

  • "The tax code is a set of logic that can be coded into software."

Resources Mentioned:

Fintech ImpactJason PereiraFintech