Instead

Instead is an AI-powered tax platform that is fundamentally transforming how tax work gets done. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company has developed an innovative AI agent that orchestrates the entire tax process - from research and planning to preparation, compliance, filing, and defense. What makes Instead uniquely positioned is that it became the first company in decades to receive IRS approval to e-file individual and business tax returns, including Forms 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120S, and 1065, across the IRS and 48 states.

The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze tax returns, identify missed opportunities, and implement tax-saving strategies with supporting documentation. Instead serves a wide range of clients including CPA firms, tax preparers, corporate tax teams, family offices, businesses, and high net worth individuals. The company's AI agent handles full context across every entity a client has - individual returns, S-corps, C-corps, partnerships, and trusts - optimizing their total tax picture. With backing from investors including Conviction, IRIS Software Group, and Skylark, Instead is rapidly expanding its reach and positioning itself as a game-changing alternative to traditional tax software like CCH Axcess, GoSystem, and UltraTax.