Step, the banking app with a suite of credit-building financial tools to empower young adults to achieve financial independence, added free tax filing powered by april’s Filer. The partnership ensures that Step users, many of whom are first-time filers, can complete their tax returns without the hidden fees and upsells that often come with other e-file providers.

By embedding tax filing directly into its app, Step is providing an intuitive, guided experience that demystifies the filing process and even enables users to get their refund up to five days earlier if they deposit it into their Step account. Since launching tax filing in late January, thousands of Step users have already taken advantage of this free service.

april’s Filer tool is particularly well-suited to support first-time filers because its smart routing system leverages AI to reduce the number of questions a user must answer–out of over 1.9K potential questions to answer, the average user sees only 36 screens.

“Our mission is to improve the financial future of the next generation,” said CJ MacDonald, CEO of Step. “By integrating with april, we're empowering our users to file their taxes for free and with confidence and ease, helping them avoid unnecessary fees and receive their refunds faster. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide accessible financial tools that put our users’ needs first and promote financial literacy and independence.”

Ben Borodach, CEO of april, echoed this sentiment. "Filing taxes can be daunting, especially for young adults filing for the first time,” Borodach said. “We’re excited to support Step users in taking a step toward financial independence through fast, free tax filing."

Step is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC. The Step Visa Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association.