Coming soon to both Android and iOS, Connect from Refundo will make it easier for taxpayers to file returns with their tax preparers. The new mobile app is designed to help tax professionals reach more customers, as well as reduce wait times for in-office clients.
“The beauty of this mobile application is that it will be yours,” Refundo Analytics, Growth and Product Hacker Jesse Arroyave wrote on the company blog. “Customize the app with your brand’s color, your logo and a brief description of what you can do for taxpayers.” Arroyave says mobile apps like Connect typically exceed 10 million downloads during tax season, and cautioned that too many smaller FIs were still missing out on the action.
“I’m just tired of small tax offices, who compete and work just as hard as bigger companies, not seeing the bigger picture,” Arroyave said. “Here’s an opportunity to compete and grab a piece of that pie you deserve.”
Launched in 2011 with a focus on helping low- and moderate-income households access quality financial services, Refundo followed its debut at FinovateSpring 2013 with a partnership with Stripe to enable tax preparers to accept credit-card payments via the Refundo Dashboard, and with a collaboration with fellow Finovate alum LendUp to provide short-term loans to taxpayers waiting for refunds. The company, which is headquartered in Elizabeth, New Jersey, won the Innovative Technology Company of the Year award from the New Jersey Tech Council last year. Refundo’s products include the Dashboard tax-refund-processing platform; a refund anticipation loan (RAL) alternative called NOW; and their audit-advisory service, Audit Pros. Roger Chinchilla is CEO.