Open Ledger, a prominent accounting software company, has introduced an innovative product just in time for tax day. Meet PokéTax, a unique game designed to transform the often tedious tax filing process into an enjoyable experience. Instead of navigating through complex tax forms, players will face off against Tax Trainers—gym leaders who represent various components of a tax form, including income, deductions, and credits.
Each Tax Trainer presents questions that guide players in completing their tax forms accurately. “Once you finish your PokéTax run, we guide you to the IRS Direct File site to officially submit,” explained Open Ledger co-founder Pryce Adade-Yebesi in an interview with TechCrunch. This innovative approach aims to make the tax filing experience more interactive and less daunting.
PokéTax is inspired by the open-source Pokémon game, Pokémon Showdown. Adade-Yebesi assures users that this is not an April Fool’s joke. “This is real; it works. Tax fraud isn’t funny — and neither is the IRS,” he emphasized. This playful take on tax filing is part of a broader trend to make financial processes more accessible and engaging.
Open Ledger, co-founded by Pryce Adade-Yebesi and Ashtyn Bell, launched earlier this year and successfully raised a $3 million funding round led by Kindred Ventures and Black Ventures. Initially, Adade-Yebesi and his team conceived the idea of PokéTax as a joke, questioning, “Could we actually pull this off?” The answer turned out to be a resounding yes.
PokéTax includes an AI assistant that helps users organize their responses, making the tax filing process more streamlined. Players can earn badges by discovering new deductions as they challenge the Tax Trainers. This gamified approach aims to combat the negative perception surrounding taxes, making the process “more engaging and way less soul-sucking,” according to Adade-Yebesi.
While taxes are often viewed as a burdensome duty, innovative concepts like PokéTax demonstrate that there is potential for creativity in financial management. In 2023, there was also the dating-style game Tax Heaven 3000, where users interacted with an avatar named Iris to help complete a tax form. However, that was limited to the 2022 tax filing year, making PokéTax a fresh and ongoing solution for tax season.
As the deadline for taxes approaches on April 15, Open Ledger’s PokéTax offers a refreshing way to engage with the often-dreaded tax filing process. By blending gaming elements with essential financial tasks, PokéTax may encourage more individuals to tackle their taxes head-on, transforming a necessary obligation into a fun and rewarding experience.
