Rocket Lawyer, a legal services platform, has launched Rocket Tax, a tax preparation platform that pairs taxpayers with qualified preparers.
Personal returns (single or married filing jointly) start at $199.99 and are prepared by a CPA, according to the Rocket Tax web site. Self-employed returns start at $399.99 and business returns at $499.99; both may be prepared by a CPA or Enrolled Agent. All include state and federal returns. Self-employed and business returns include tax-benefits analysis and year-end bookkeeping, and the company says it supports “every type of business and industry” in all states.
The standard delivery time for returns is seven days after Rocket Tax receives the customer’s tax documents, though returns can be done in as little as one day for an additional charge, according to the website. Expedited filing services are available until April 1 to meet the April 18 deadline.
Powered by the Rocket Legal Cloud, Rocket Tax integrates with the filing app Taxfyle, in which Rocket Lawyer made a strategic investment in 2021.
There is a bundled discount associated with Rocket Lawyer membership and messaging support to reach tax professionals during preparation, as well as phone support to discuss returns and costs beforehand. Tax pros undergo a background check and provide credentials including a government-issued ID, updated resume, PTIN, EFIN and copy of EA license if applicable.
“According to our survey, 94% of small-business owners have concerns about filing their taxes in 2023, yet only half of those with concerns currently work with a tax professional,” said Charley Moore, founder and CEO at Rocket Lawyer, in a statement. “In today’s environment, when businesses are concerned about rising costs, lack of resources and other business challenges, it’s important to eliminate the hassle related to taxes and offer a simplified process, so we’re telling customers, ‘Don’t do your taxes — let us do them for you.'”
The platform’s recent survey of 1,000 small and midsized businesses also revealed that their top three tax filing mistakes were lost opportunities for deductions and credits, not knowing what documentation is needed, and math errors.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents would opt to work with a tax professional to avoid audits and penalties if they knew of an affordable way to do so, and more than a third (38%) are ready to switch from DIY tax services to working with a tax pro, the survey found.
