terms of service

Draft · June 12, 2026 · not yet in effect

This is a working draft. Our attorney has not finished reviewing it, and it is not in effect. Nothing on this page creates rights or obligations yet. We are publishing it early so you can see the terms we intend to offer. The final version will be posted here with an effective date before our filing software launches.

what this is

These terms will govern the use of sourdough.tax and the Sourdough Self-File software, operated by Sourdough Tax, Inc., Los Angeles, California. Joining the waitlist today costs nothing, commits you to nothing, and does not make us your tax preparer. How we handle your information is covered by our privacy policy, which is also a draft.

the service

Sourdough Self-File is tax software for gig workers. When it launches, it will provide calculations, data organization, educational information, software-generated suggestions, and e-file transmission for current-year federal and state individual income tax returns, starting with California. Until then, the website is informational and the only live feature is the waitlist.

You review and approve your income, deductions, suggested categories, filing status, dependents, mileage, and final forms before filing. Returns in Sourdough Self-File are submitted as self-prepared unless you separately buy Sourdough Assisted.

Sourdough Assisted is a separate paid workflow with a CPA, EA, or CTEC preparer of record. We become your tax preparer only when we have explicitly accepted an Assisted engagement in writing - not when you join the waitlist, and not when you pay the founding price.

the $99 founding offer

$99 covers Sourdough Self-File software access and e-file transmission for your current-year federal and state individual income tax return.

Full refund before filing, on request. Any time before you file through Sourdough, ask and we refund the full $99. No reason needed.
Automatic full refund if filing is not available. If you cannot file through Sourdough - whatever the reason, including your state not being supported yet - we refund the full $99 without you having to ask.

Sourdough Assisted, if offered to you, is priced separately.

Payment is processed by Stripe. Refunds go back to the payment method you used.

This section is being finalized with counsel and will be completed before these terms take effect.

your tax information (irc §7216)

Federal law - Internal Revenue Code §7216 - restricts what tax preparers may do with tax return information. Our intent, in plain English:

We use your tax return information only to provide Sourdough Self-File software, calculations, data organization, educational information, e-file transmission, or an Assisted service you separately authorize.
Any other use, and any disclosure to anyone else, happens only after you sign a separate written consent in the specific format the IRS requires.
Declining a consent never affects whether you can use the core Self-File product.

The binding consent language will be inserted by counsel before launch:

The binding consent text is being finalized with counsel and will be presented for your signature, in the IRS-required format, before any tax return information is collected.

what we need from you

Once the service is live: give us accurate and complete information, review and approve income, deductions, suggested categories, filing status, dependents, mileage, and final forms before filing, and tell us promptly if anything we have on file is wrong. You are responsible for the return, the return positions, and the final filing. We rely on what you tell us.

not advice

Pages on this site - including the tax tips - are general tax information and educational guidance, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Sourdough Self-File provides software-generated suggestions for your review and does not create a preparer-client relationship. Sourdough Tax, Inc. is not your tax preparer or advisor unless we have explicitly accepted a separate Assisted engagement in writing. We do not guarantee any particular refund, liability, or tax outcome.

limitation of liability

This section is being finalized with counsel and will be completed before these terms take effect.

This section is reserved for counsel. Because these terms are a draft and not in effect, they do not limit anyone's liability today.

governing law

These terms will be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules.

This section is being finalized with counsel and will be completed before these terms take effect.

changes to these terms

We may revise this draft at any time before it takes effect. Once the terms are in effect, material changes will be posted here and emailed to the waitlist before they apply.

contact

Sourdough Tax, Inc. · Los Angeles, California

Questions about these terms: shantanu@sourdough.tax
General support: support@sourdough.tax · (213) 699-5673