PayTax: Our Story
Updated At : Sat, Nov 30, 2024
PayTax: Our Story
PayTax.NZ - This story started with a spark of inspiration over Christmas.
I'm Joseph Han, an experienced software designer and developer. For the past ten years, I've been focused on developing enterprise-level ERP and CRM systems.
In Christmas 2023, a friend recommended a part-time project to me: helping a private high school develop its internal management system. They requested a formal Invoice including GST. So, I had to apply for a GST number from IRD, and that seemingly simple task led to an unexpected headache.
Although I'm not a stranger to accounting, as I have experience developing related software, I found the actual accounting work to be tedious: monthly bookkeeping, GST filing, tracking income and expenses... It all made my head spin. And as a software engineer, my first thought was - if software can do it, why should I do it manually?
So, I initially considered using Xero, a popular accounting software often used in enterprise environments. I knew it well and even had substantial experience with integration. However, after exploring it further, I realised that Xero wasn't the right fit for me as a part-time worker: it was overly complex, with most of its features being irrelevant to my needs. All I needed was something to help me track all my Invoices, income, and expenses, and to calculate the GST and income tax automatically. Additionally, the pricing was also a concern. Xero is targeted at businesses, not for individual part-timers like myself. Paying for features I didn't need seemed like a waste.
Next, I kept searching until I found something that seemed perfect - SoloApp. This tool was developed by a New Zealand painter to meet his own needs, designed specifically for self-employed individuals. It met all my requirements: simple, straightforward, and easy to use. However, after a month's free trial, I found that many core functions were locked behind a paywall. Even though it was half the price of Xero, it still felt a bit pricey for my situation.
As a software developer, I couldn't let this challenge defeat me. With my experience and skills, why not build a similar tool myself? So, I decided to create my own version.
Throughout 2024, I gradually developed the prototype for PayTax. Through constant use and testing, it became more and more refined. The system is simple and straightforward, focusing on tracking income, expenses, and Invoices while also automatically calculating GST and income tax. For part-time workers like me, it's like having a personal accounting assistant.
As I continued to optimise the tool, it became increasingly stable and useful. Eventually, I decided to make it publicly available, offering it for free to all self-employed individuals and part-time workers. After all, I didn't want anyone else to have to pay for unnecessary features like I had to.
And thus, PayTax.NZ was born. It is an online tool tailored for self-employed and part-time workers in New Zealand, helping you manage income and expenses easily, create professional Invoices, and quickly calculate your tax obligations. Plus, I made one important decision: all core features will be free forever!
As a self-employed person, your time and energy are precious. Let PayTax.NZ be your tax and accounting assistant, helping you focus more on your business instead of tedious bookkeeping. PayTax.NZ is here to make your life easier, so you can focus on what truly matters.
PayTax.NZ, born from a software developer's Christmas inspiration, now at your service!