In an era when tax compliance remains a daunting task for individuals and businesses alike, one software engineer is changing the narrative with her intuitive tech platforms. Sanju Sriram, a San Francisco-based technologist, has emerged as a trailblazer in tax tech innovation with her groundbreaking platform, Simple720. This is a tool that brings simplicity and accessibility to one of the IRS’s most complex filing forms.
Intuitive tech refers to technology designed to be effortless, natural, and user-friendly, requiring little to no instruction to use. It prioritizes the user’s instincts and habits, so interactions feel seamless and obvious, almost like second nature. This is exactly what Sanju has achieved through her Simple 720 platform.
The IRS’s modernization push, under the Taxpayer First Act (TFA), has accelerated digital transformation across the tax system. A key update in 2024 made e-filing mandatory for Form 720 – used to report federal excise taxes – for businesses filing 10 or more returns annually. While this move was intended to streamline tax administration, it inadvertently intensified the complexity for those already struggling with tax compliance.
That’s where Sanju stepped in.
Building Tech That Understands People
“Everyone has to file taxes,” says Sanju, “and while I couldn’t take that fact away, I knew I could use my skill set to make it less painful.”
Drawing from her deep expertise in data engineering, Sanju identified a gap in how Form 720 was being addressed in the IRS’s e-filing transition. Recognizing that the form’s complexity could overwhelm small businesses and non-experts, she launched Simple720 in November of last year. The platform quickly gained traction, attracting high-profile users including Nike, Ernst & Young, and San Diego Gas & Electric.
At its core, Simple720 is built on empathy and technical precision. Sanju explains that with intuitive tech, users need to be able to figure out how to use it almost immediately and this is the magic behind her Simple720 platform. It incorporates actions, commands, and AI predictions which feel organic. “Most tax platforms are built by people who understand code, not everyday people,” she says. “I had to switch hats – be a coder, but also a small business owner, a single parent, a freelancer – anyone who doesn’t live and breathe IRS regulations.”
From Stress to Simplicity: Making Tax Filing Accessible
Intuitive tech is all about human-centred design. It’s built around how people actually behave, not how engineers think they should behave, explains Sanju. As such, she says her mission with Simple720 wasn’t just to digitize tax filing, but to humanize it.
“Tax codes are full of jargon, exceptions, and ever-changing rules,” she explains. “People miss deductions or file incorrectly because the system doesn’t speak their language.”
By stripping away legalese and automating form logic, Simple720 guides users step-by-step through what used to be hours of paperwork. “The result,” she adds, “is fewer errors, more confidence, and a massive reduction in filing time.”
Sanju believes that simplifying tax tech is about more than just convenience; it’s about economic equity. “Lower-income earners and small business owners don’t always have access to accountants,” she says. “With Simple720, I wanted to build something that empowers them to handle taxes confidently and affordably.”
Engineering for Impact
Sanju describes Simple720 as her ‘data engineering masterpiece.’ But beyond the code, it represents a bigger philosophy: that technology should serve the people it’s built for.
“When the IRS began requiring mandatory e-filing for Form 720, I saw an opportunity, not just to build a platform, but to make a difference in how society deals with tax season,” she says. “Tax touches everyone, so making it easier isn’t just a convenience. It’s public service.”
As the tax tech space continues to evolve, Simple720 stands out not just for what it does, but for why it was built. It’s a powerful reminder that the most effective innovations aren’t just technologically advanced; they’re human-centered and intuitively understand their users.
And for Sanju Sriram, that’s where true engineering brilliance lies.
