Getting started

What tako.tax is

tako.tax is a web application for preparing federal and supported state income tax returns locally. You open it in your browser, enter or import your tax information, review the values, and generate tax form PDFs.

Requirements

tako.tax requires:

• A modern browser with WebAssembly support (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari — current versions)
• JavaScript enabled
• Local storage enabled for tako.tax

No account or installation is required. The application is downloaded in your browser and runs locally for normal preparation.

Opening tako.tax

Go to app.tako.tax. The application loads directly. On first use, you may be shown a brief privacy disclosure before entering the main app.

Basic flow

The typical workflow is:

• Upload tax documents (W-2s, 1099s) or enter values manually
• Review and correct any extracted values
• Answer guided questions for your return
• Save your project locally
• Generate your tax form PDFs
• Export the forms for review and separate filing

See How it Works for a more detailed step-by-step explanation.

Important before you start

Your project is saved in browser storage. Export a project file before clearing browser data, switching devices, or relying on private browsing. See Local save and export.

tako.tax is software, not a tax advisor. Review all generated forms before filing. For advice on your tax situation, consult a qualified tax professional.

If something looks wrong

Review the limitations page for known boundaries. To report a product issue or documentation gap, contact support without sending sensitive tax documents or Social Security numbers by email.