Smart SETC
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The Solution
Building Smart SETC's vision into reality wasn't just about writing code—it was about creating a platform that genuinely worked for the people who needed it most.
The process was meticulous yet flexible, designed to ensure no detail was left unchecked, but nothing fell behind schedule.
Here's how we tackled it:
Our team used an agile, sprint-based approach to make progress manageable and iterative. Each sprint focused on clear goals, allowing the platform to evolve naturally—and ensuring the client had complete visibility into the progress.
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(Weeks 1-2): We dove deep into understanding Smart SETC's needs, the challenges self-employed users face, and the complexities of tax compliance with IRS guidelines.
(Weeks 3-4): Wireframes and mockups came to life, built around the user-first ethos. The focus was on clarity, simplicity, and ease of navigation—creating a design that even the least tech-savvy individuals could move through comfortably.
The lion's share of the timeline was spent coding features that brought the design to life, integrating third-party tools like TaxStatus and Hotjar, and ensuring every component worked seamlessly together. Halfway through, we entirely redesigned the app based on emerging feedback, improving the experience even further.
Our Roles
- Katerina Skumen
- Billy Christy
- Edwin Rotich
- Vadim Nikolaev
No great solution is built without its share of hurdles, and this project was no exception. Some of the major obstacles we faced—and overcame—include:
- Complying with IRS guidelines: Precision was critical. Integrating TaxStatus ensured the platform met regulations and gave users peace of mind that the system was as accurate as it was helpful.
- Centralizing analytics: A single, cohesive data source for user activity analytics was essential for the client and their users. Every insight had to be actionable, whether behavior trends or system performance.
- Simplifying the UX: Self-employed individuals already have enough on their plates. The challenge was to make the platform as simple as possible without sacrificing the essential features or overwhelming first-time users with unnecessary details.
- Tight deadlines: As the end-of-year program deadline loomed, the pressure was confirmed. The team balanced speed with quality to ensure everything was done on time while meeting high standards.
To ensure the solution covered everything Smart SETC envisioned, we delivered a platform equipped with key components that addressed the pain points head-on:
- User-Friendly Features:
- Tax return uploads with zero hassle
- Built-in questionnaires to simplify eligibility checks
- Notification system to keep users on track
- Admin Functionality:
- Ticketing system for seamless support
- Crucial Integrations:
- Referral program integration to drive growth
- HubSpot for CRM & sales
- Google Analytics for tracking user behaviors
- TaxStatus for secure IRS data
- DocuSign for reliable agreements
- Hotjar for UX insights
Smart SETC's platform wasn't just a tool—it was a lifeline for the self-employed, delivering on every promise with precision, care, and attention to detail.
The result? A platform that stands ready to help people claim the relief they deserve, now and in the future.
When Smart SETC approached us, they had a clear mission but an uphill battle. They wanted to help self-employed individuals access Self-Employment Tax Credits (SETC) under the American Rescue Plan—a critical relief fund for those struck by the pandemic.
But the process? It was a minefield.
For starters, most self-employed people didn’t even know they were eligible for these credits, and those who did often lost themselves in a maze of IRS forms and dense requirements. Plus, the stakes were high. Filing even a slightly incomplete or incorrect form meant leaving money—real, meaningful relief—on the table.
What should’ve been a lifeline for many was complex and confusing.
For Smart SETC, the goal was ambitious but straightforward in principle: create an intuitive, easy-to-use platform that guided users through the process while ensuring everything lined up perfectly with IRS guidelines.
They wanted their platform to do more than “work.” It had to make life easier for this community and maximize every possible credit for them.
But the challenges didn’t stop there. Integrating with TaxStatus to pull the necessary IRS data was no small feat. The platform also had to be live and fully functional against tight deadlines, as looming legislative changes threatened to complicate the already strict timelines for filing.
Every hour mattered.
The stakes weren’t just about launching a service but solving a real problem for people who desperately needed support. Smart SETC wasn’t just filling a market need; it relieved people when they needed it most. And they needed us to help them succeed.
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