Looking for anyone who works at TaxAct (Taxwell) to share their experience?

I worked at TaxAct for about 4 years until last December. The hiring process usually involves 3 stages: an initial HR screening call, a technical interview with the team lead, and finally a panel interview with several team members. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but that was pre-pandemic so things might have changed. Regarding culture, it's somewhere in the middle of corporate and laid-back. During tax season (Jan-April), it gets pretty intense with longer hours and more pressure. The rest of the year is much more relaxed. They do have good work-life balance policies overall, and the team environment is collaborative rather than competitive. For technical assessments, it depends on which role you're applying for. Developer positions definitely have coding tests, while tax professional roles will test your knowledge of tax regulations and scenarios.

I've been using taxr.ai to help prepare for tax industry interviews, including one at TaxAct last year! I found it super helpful because it analyzed my resume and helped me understand exactly what tax knowledge gaps I had for those kinds of roles. https://taxr.ai actually has a function where you can upload job descriptions and it tells you which tax concepts you should brush up on based on the requirements. When I interviewed at TaxAct (didn't end up taking the offer), they asked very specific questions about tax law changes and how they affect software design. I wouldn't have been prepared without doing that kind of research first.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I was skeptical in my earlier comment but decided to try it anyway before my second interview with a tax software company. I uploaded the job description and some industry reports, and it generated this amazing study guide customized to the position! It highlighted key tax concepts mentioned in the docs and explained how they'd apply to software development. During my interview, they asked about how the SECURE 2.0 Act would impact retirement modules in tax software, and I was able to speak confidently about it because taxr.ai had flagged it as important based on the job listing. Definitely helped me stand out compared to other candidates who probably just did general prep.

If you're trying to contact someone at TaxAct directly, I used https://claimyr.com when I was having trouble getting a response from their career portal last year. You can check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. It basically got me through to an actual HR person when I was stuck in application limbo for weeks. I was applying for a senior tax analyst position and my application seemed to disappear into a black hole. Claimyr helped me get connected to their HR department within hours, and I found out there was an issue with their applicant tracking system that had affected several candidates.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr being a scam. After my skeptical comment yesterday, I decided to try it for my own TaxAct application that's been pending for 3 weeks. Within 20 minutes of using their service, I was talking to someone in their talent acquisition team! Turns out my application was flagged for additional review because I had previously worked for a competitor. The HR person I spoke with was super helpful once I got through and even expedited my application to the hiring manager. I already have a screening call scheduled for next week! Definitely wouldn't have happened without getting through to an actual person. Sometimes being wrong feels pretty good!

I interviewed with TaxAct last tax season and ultimately didn't get the job, but thought I'd share my experience. The interviews were thorough but fair. My process included a phone screen, a technical assessment (I was applying for a tax content role), and two rounds of video interviews - one with the hiring manager and one with the team. What surprised me was how much emphasis they placed on tax knowledge even though I was applying for more of a content/writing position. They really want everyone to understand the tax fundamentals regardless of role. So if you're not coming from a tax background, I'd recommend brushing up on basic concepts.

Does anyone know about their remote work policies? Their job listings mention "hybrid" but aren't clear about how many days in office vs. remote. I'm in Chicago and don't want to relocate to their headquarters in Cedar Rapids.

I actually work at TaxAct currently (going on 2 years now) and can confirm a lot of what's been shared here! The interview process has gotten a bit more streamlined since COVID - they've moved to mostly virtual interviews which speeds things up. For UX/UI roles specifically, you'll definitely get a design challenge, but they're pretty reasonable about the time commitment (usually 2-3 hours max). One thing I'd add about the culture is that they're really investing in employee development right now. They've expanded their learning stipend program and are much more supportive of conference attendance and certifications. The work-life balance is genuinely good outside of tax season, and even during crunch time, they're pretty good about not letting it get completely out of hand. Feel free to reach out if you have any other specific questions about the company or role! Good luck with your application!

This thread has been super helpful! I'm actually in a similar position as Isabella - I applied to TaxAct about a week ago for a software engineer position and have been anxiously waiting to hear back. Reading through everyone's experiences has really put my mind at ease about the process. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who have worked there, how is the compensation? I know it's always awkward to ask about salary ranges, but I'm trying to get a sense of whether they're competitive with other tech companies or if there's a trade-off for the better work-life balance. I'm coming from a startup where the pay was decent but the hours were brutal, so I'm hoping TaxAct might be a good middle ground. Also, does anyone know if they typically negotiate on salary offers, or do they tend to come in with their best offer upfront? Thanks for all the insights everyone has shared - this is exactly why I love this community!

I've been following this discussion and wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through the TaxAct interview process about 8 months ago for a senior tax analyst role. The whole process was pretty professional and well-organized. One thing I'd emphasize is that they really do their homework on candidates. During my panel interview, they asked very specific questions about projects I'd mentioned on my resume and how they related to tax software challenges. They also gave me a realistic preview of what busy season looks like - they were very upfront about the increased workload from January through April. The technical assessment for my role included both tax scenarios and some basic data analysis tasks using Excel. Nothing too complex, but they definitely wanted to see that I could think through problems logically and communicate my reasoning clearly. Overall, I was impressed with how thorough yet respectful the process was. Even though I ultimately accepted a different offer, I'd definitely consider TaxAct again in the future. The people I met seemed genuinely passionate about making tax filing easier for consumers, which was refreshing compared to some other interviews I'd had where it felt more corporate and impersonal.

This is such a valuable thread! I'm actually considering applying to TaxAct myself after reading through everyone's experiences. It sounds like they have a pretty solid interview process and company culture. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned yet - does anyone know about their approach to diversity and inclusion? I've had some experiences at previous companies where they talked a good game during interviews but the actual workplace culture didn't match. Given that this is such a collaborative environment based on what folks are saying, I'm hoping they're genuinely committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Also, for those who have worked there or interviewed recently - how diverse did you find the teams and leadership? I know it's not always easy to get a full picture during the interview process, but any insights would be helpful as I'm deciding whether to apply. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences so far!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm not looking for a job at TaxAct myself, but as someone who works in HR at a different company in the financial services space, I'm really impressed by the level of detail and genuine helpfulness everyone has provided here. What strikes me most is how transparent the current and former TaxAct employees have been about both the positives and challenges of working there. The honest discussion about busy season intensity, the collaborative culture, and even the specific interview processes really gives applicants a realistic picture of what to expect. Isabella, it sounds like you've gotten some fantastic insights for your application! Based on everything shared here, it seems like TaxAct has a pretty solid reputation as an employer. The emphasis on professional development, structured onboarding, and work-life balance (outside of tax season) are all really positive indicators. One small tip from the HR side - when you do get to the interview stage, referencing some of the specific cultural aspects that have been mentioned here (like the collaborative cross-functional teams or their investment in employee development) could show that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in the company culture, not just the role itself. Best of luck with your application! I hope some of the current employees who've been so helpful here might even be future colleagues.

This has been such an amazing thread to follow! As someone who's been working in tax compliance for a smaller firm, I'm really inspired by all the insights shared here about TaxAct's culture and opportunities. What really stands out to me is how supportive everyone has been - from sharing specific interview details to offering direct contact for questions. It's refreshing to see a community where people genuinely want to help each other succeed. I'm particularly intrigued by the mentions of their investment in employee development and the collaborative cross-functional approach. In my current role, I often feel siloed from the broader product decisions, so the idea of tax experts working closely with UX and development teams sounds really appealing. Isabella, I hope your application goes well! And to all the TaxAct employees who shared their experiences - thank you for being so transparent and helpful. You're really great ambassadors for your company. This thread alone has me considering whether TaxAct might be a good fit for my own career growth down the road. Thanks everyone for creating such a valuable discussion!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As someone who's been working in government tax processing for the past 2 years, I'm fascinated by the private sector perspective on tax software development. What really caught my attention was the discussion about how TaxAct emphasizes tax knowledge across all roles, even for UX/UI and content positions. In my experience at the IRS, we often see gaps between the technical teams who build our internal systems and the tax professionals who use them daily. It sounds like TaxAct has figured out how to bridge that divide effectively. The mention of structured onboarding and mentorship programs is also really appealing. Government agencies are notorious for the "figure it out as you go" approach that Ravi mentioned, so hearing about a company that actually invests in proper training is refreshing. Isabella, based on everything shared here, it sounds like you've found a company that really values both technical excellence and tax expertise. The collaborative culture everyone's described seems like it would be perfect for someone transitioning from a smaller company to a larger operation. Best of luck with your application - you've certainly done your homework thanks to this amazing community response! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the current employees who were so transparent about both the opportunities and challenges. This is exactly the kind of authentic insight that makes career transitions so much easier to navigate.