Have questions about TaxBird? We have answers. Have a question that’s not covered here? Please reach out to support@taxbird.com and we’ll be happy to help!
How do I subscribe to TaxBird?
To subscribe to TaxBird, you can click the card that says Subscribe Now at the top of the Dashboard in the app. When you click that card, you will be brought to the subscription overview page where you’ll complete the subscription through your app store. Subscriptions are available for $4.99/month or $39.99/year.
Please be aware that the subscription will begin as soon as you confirm your purchase, even if you have time left in your 30-day free trial.
Do you offer a free trial?
TaxBird offers a free trial so you can explore the app before committing to a subscription. The trial is completely risk-free — your account will never automatically move into a paid subscription when the trial ends. There is nothing to cancel and you will not be charged anything unless you actively choose to subscribe.
When the trial expires, certain features will become locked including your location history, alerts, and reporting. Your data remains safely backed up on our servers, so if you decide to subscribe later everything will be right where you left it.
TaxBird is primarily designed as a subscription-based app — without an active subscription the core tracking and reporting features that make the app valuable will not be accessible.
Subscription pricing:
- Monthly: $4.99/month
- Annual: $39.99/year
Note: If you subscribe before your trial ends, any remaining trial days will be forfeited and your subscription billing period will begin immediately.
Where can I find the TaxBird app?
TaxBird is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The device used to gather locations for your account must be a phone, but you can also view your data on a tablet.
Does TaxBird support tracking internationally?
Yes, TaxBird tracks worldwide as long as you have service. We support country-level tracking anywhere in the world. In the United States, we also have the option to track your specific state. In Canada, we have the option to track your province.
Do you support New York City tracking?
Yes, we now support tracking New York City in addition to New York State.
How does TaxBird keep track of my locations?
TaxBird utilizes location services on your phone to keep track of the number of days that you’ve spent in each state. After your initial setup, there is very little interaction with the app required to keep track of your days. The phone does all the work for you.
How do I give TaxBird permission to access my location?
TaxBird requires "Always" level location permission to track your location automatically in the background. Here's how to set this up:
For iOS:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone
- Tap Apps
- Scroll down and tap TaxBird
- Tap Location and set it to "Always"
- Make sure Precise Location is also turned on
- Go back to TaxBird settings and tap Notifications
- Make sure Allow Notifications is turned on
For Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps > TaxBird > Permissions > Location
- Set it to "Allow all the time"
- Make sure Use precise location is enabled
You can also review your location permission status within the app by going to Profile > Location Tracking.
How do I give TaxBird permission to send me notifications?
To turn on notifications for email and your phone, navigate to the Profile tab and click on the Notifications row. From here, you can slide the toggles to alter your notification settings. For phone notifications, you may be required to adjust your device settings as well.
How does TaxBird count a day when I've been in multiple locations?
TaxBird counts any presence in a location — even a brief visit or a few hours — as a full day for that location. This means the same calendar day can count toward multiple states or countries simultaneously. For example, if you travel from New York to Florida on a given day, both states will each receive a full day credit independently.
This methodology is consistent with how many state tax codes define presence for residency purposes, where even a partial day in a state counts as a full day.
As a result, your total day count across all locations will often exceed 365 days in a year — this is expected and not an error.
Why do my total days across all locations add up to more than the current day of the year?
This is expected behavior and not an error. TaxBird counts any presence in a location as a full day for that location, and the same calendar day can appear in multiple locations simultaneously. For example, a day where you travel from one state to another will count as a full day in both states independently.
As a result, adding up all of your location day counts will produce a number higher than the actual days in the year.
If you want to calculate your total unique days outside of a specific location, subtract that location's day count from the current day of the year. Do not add up days in the other locations as this will result in double-counting.
What does "Other Locations" mean on my Dashboard?
Other Locations is a catch-all category that captures days in jurisdictions that don't have their own dedicated Dashboard card. It is not a count of days spent outside your tracked locations.
Because the same day can appear in multiple locations simultaneously, the Other Locations total is not deduplicated and will naturally add up to more than your actual unique days outside your tracked locations. You should not use the Other Locations total to calculate days outside a specific location.
To understand your total days outside of a specific location, subtract that location's day count from the current day of the year.
If you'd like a location that currently appears in Other Locations to have its own Dashboard card, you can add it by going to Profile > Account Locations > Add New.
Why is New York City showing separately from New York State?
TaxBird tracks New York State and New York City as two separate jurisdictions because NYC has its own distinct tax and residency implications that are independent of New York State. It is possible to be a New York State resident without being a New York City resident, which is why many users need to monitor both independently.
Any day spent in New York City is recorded under both NY State and NYC simultaneously — NYC days are not being assigned instead of NY State days, they are being assigned in addition to them. No double-counting is occurring and your NY State day count is not affected by NYC also being tracked.
How do I add or edit days that were missed by location tracking?
Any day that wasn't automatically captured by the app is labeled as a Missing Day, and there are a few ways to address them:
Option 1 — Missing Days card:
If you have missing days, a card will appear at the top of your Dashboard. Tap the card to see all dates that haven't been captured, then tap any range to input the location(s) you were in on those dates.
Option 2 — Edit Missed Days:
Tap the + button and select Edit Missed Days. Select the date range you'd like to fill in, choose the location, and tap Save in the top right corner.
Option 3 — Add Missed Location:
If you need to add an additional location to a day that already has one assigned — for example, a travel day where you were in two states — tap the + button and select Add Missed Location, then input the location and date.
A few helpful tips when entering days:
- Select the location first on the input screen. This allows you to create a day of overlap with adjacent records, which is needed when entering multiple locations for the same date.
- Shorten before extending. If a date is already assigned to a location, it must be freed up before it can be reassigned. Shorten or adjust the existing record first, then extend or add the new one.
- Greyed out dates in the date selector indicate a location is already saved for that date.
For a full walkthrough, check out our video guide: TaxBird - Missing Days
What are Exception Days and how do I use them?
Exception Days allow you to remove a specific day from a location's day count without affecting any of your other location records. This is useful when a day was recorded for a location but you believe it should not count toward your residency threshold — for example, a layover in an airport.
To mark a day as an Exception:
- Go to the Timeline tab
- Tap the date range you'd like to adjust
- Select "Mark Exception Days"
- Confirm the locations you'd like to apply the exception to and tap Save in the top right corner
We strongly recommend consulting with your tax advisor before marking any days as exceptions to confirm this is the appropriate approach for your specific situation.
Can I add my future plans to my account?
Yes, you can include your plans and see your projected counts for each state for the year. To add, edit, or delete plans, click on the “+” button from the Dashboard screen and choose the option to Add Planned Days. From here, you can click on a range of dates and input the exact date range and the state you plan to be in. You can also include a note about why you’re going to be in the state. Once planned days have been entered, you can click on the Planned toggle at the top of the Dashboard to see the number of planned days for each state and the total projected count for the year which includes historical data plus any planned days.
What is the Timeline and how can I use it?
The Timeline tab of the app is used to show your full year in chronological order. This view will show you all historical days, both captured by location services and manually input, as well as any planned days that have been input. Additionally, you can see any open ranges where days have been missed or are still available to input plans. You can also click on any entry and add notes to your records.
How do I add or remove an Account Location from my account?
You can manage your Account Locations (Dashboard cards) at any time from the Profile tab. Here's how:
To add a location:
- Go to Profile > Account Locations
- Tap Add New and follow the prompts to set up the location
To delete a location:
- Go to Profile > Account Locations
- Tap the trash icon next to the location you'd like to remove
Note: Deleting a location from your account does not delete the underlying location history associated with it. Your historical tracking data is stored independently and will remain intact. Account locations simply tell the app how to display your data and which locations are relevant for notifications and reporting.
How do I set or update a threshold for a location?
Thresholds allow you to set day count targets or limits for your locations. They are fully customizable and will alert you as you approach your target.
Setting a threshold is a two-step process:
Step 1 — Make sure the location is added as an Account Location:
Thresholds can only be set for locations on your account. If the location isn't already on your Dashboard, add it first by going to Profile > Account Locations > Add New.
Step 2 — Set the threshold:
- Go to Profile > Location Threshold
- Find the location you'd like to set a threshold for
- Enter your target day count
There are two types of thresholds:
Standard threshold (maximum limit): Use this when you want to stay below a certain number of days in a location — for example, staying under 183 days in a state to avoid statutory residency. Leave the Reversed Count toggle off. The app will count up toward your limit and alert you as you approach it.
Reversed Count (minimum target): Use this when you want to reach a minimum number of days in a location — for example, hitting 183 days in Florida to establish residency there. Toggle Reversed Count on. The app will track your progress upward toward your target.
Using the wrong type for your situation is a common source of confusion — if your threshold alert doesn't seem to make sense, check whether Reversed Count is toggled correctly for that location.
Can I change the order of my Dashboard cards?
Yes, you can change your Dashboard order. To do so, go to Profile > Dashboard Display. From there, you can drag and drop the locations into your preferred order. When you're happy with the order, click Save to finalize the update.
How do I generate a yearly summary report?
You can generate a summary report of your location data for any year directly within the app. There are two ways to get to the report generation screen:
- Tap the + button and select "Generate Yearly Report"
- Go to Profile > Request Summary Report
Once on the report generation screen, confirm the year you'd like the report for and tap Request Report. The report will be delivered to your email shortly after.
If you need reports for multiple years, simply repeat the process and select a different year each time.
Can I update my email address and/or phone number?
Yes, you can update your account information by going to the Profile tab and clicking on the edit button at the top right. Be sure to click the Save button after editing your details.
How do I change my password?
Navigate to the Profile tab of the app and click on the Change Password button. Input your current password and the new password you’d like to use and then click Save at the top right.
I switched to a new phone. Will I lose my data?
No — all of your TaxBird data is backed up on our servers and will never be lost by switching phones, deleting the app, or reinstalling it.
To get TaxBird set up on your new phone, simply download the app from the App Store or Google Play and log in with your existing email and password. All of your history will be right where you left it.
After logging in, please verify the following from the Profile tab:
- Active Device — Confirm your new phone is set as the Active Device
- Location Tracking — Confirm location is set to Always with Precise Location turned on
- Notifications — Confirm Push Notifications are enabled
Can I share my account with my spouse or family member?
We recommend that each person have their own separate TaxBird account. Residency tracking is typically reviewed at the individual level for tax purposes, so having separate accounts ensures each person has their own accurate, independent record.
Sharing login credentials also risks disrupting location tracking if the Active Device gets changed to the wrong phone. If you'd like to set up an account for a spouse or family member, they can download TaxBird and create their own account using their own email address.
TaxBird is having issues gathering my location. Why is that?
There are several settings that can prevent TaxBird from tracking your location automatically in the background even when location permission appears to be enabled. Please work through the appropriate section for your device:
For iOS users:
- Go to Settings > Apps > TaxBird > Location and confirm it is set to "Always" with Precise Location turned on
- Go back to TaxBird settings and tap Notifications — confirm Allow Notifications is turned on
- Within the app, go to Profile and confirm your phone is set as the Active Device
- If issues persist, try toggling Location to "Never," waiting a few seconds, then setting it back to "Always" — do the same for Notifications
For Android users:
- Go to Settings > Apps > TaxBird > Permissions > Location and confirm it is set to "Allow all the time" with Use precise location enabled
- Go to Settings > Apps > TaxBird > Battery and set it to "Unrestricted"
- Confirm "Allow background activity" is turned on under Settings > Apps > TaxBird
- Go to Settings > Battery and make sure Power Saver mode is off and TaxBird is not restricted under Adaptive Battery
- Check Settings > Battery > Background Usage Limits and confirm TaxBird does not appear in the Sleeping Apps or Deep Sleeping Apps lists
For Samsung users specifically:
- Go to Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery > App Power Management > Apps Not Optimized and add TaxBird to the list
- Check Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery > Background Usage Limits and remove TaxBird from Sleeping or Deep Sleeping Apps if present
- Turn off Adaptive Power Saving under Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery
If none of these steps resolve the issue, a full reinstall of the app is recommended. Your data is fully backed up and will not be lost by reinstalling.
Why is my Android phone not tracking in the background even though location is enabled?
Location permission alone may not be enough for some Android devices to sync as expected. Battery management settings may prevent TaxBird from running in the background even when location is enabled. Please check the following:
- Battery Optimization — Go to Settings > Apps > TaxBird > Battery and set it to "Unrestricted"
- Background Activity — Confirm "Allow background activity" is turned on under Settings > Apps > TaxBird
- Sleeping Apps — Go to Settings > Battery > Background Usage Limits and remove TaxBird from the Sleeping Apps and Deep Sleeping Apps lists if present
- Power Saver / Adaptive Battery — Go to Settings > Battery and make sure Power Saver mode is off and TaxBird is not restricted under Adaptive Battery
For Samsung devices, also check:
- Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery > App Power Management > Apps Not Optimized — add TaxBird to this list
- Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery > Background Usage Limits — remove TaxBird from Sleeping or Deep Sleeping Apps if present
- Turn off Adaptive Power Saving under Settings > Battery and Device Care > Battery
Will deleting and reinstalling the app delete my data?
No — your data is fully backed up on our servers and will not be lost by deleting or reinstalling the app. The warning message you see when deleting the app is a standard device message about local app data, not your TaxBird account data.
To reinstall:
- Delete the app — press and hold the TaxBird icon on your Home Screen until additional options appear, then select the option to remove the app. It is safe to confirm the deletion.
- Reinstall TaxBird from the App Store or Google Play by searching for TaxBird.
- Log back in with your email and password. If you've forgotten your password, tap Forgot Password on the Login page and a reset link will be emailed to you.
- Verify these three settings from the Profile tab: your phone is set as the Active Device, Location Tracking is set to Always with Precise Location turned on, and Push Notifications are enabled.
Once logged back in, all of your history will be right where you left it.
Will TaxBird drain my battery?
We try to be very conscious of the impact that TaxBird will have on our user’s battery and data. We’ve used very efficient techniques for location gathering and data syncing. Under the typical circumstances of use, TaxBird’s impact on the battery is minimal (approximately 1%-2%).
How do I cancel my subscription?
TaxBird subscriptions are managed through your device's app store, so cancellations are completed there rather than through TaxBird directly.
For iOS:
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Tap your name at the top to open your Apple Account
- Select Subscriptions
- Find TaxBird and tap Cancel Subscription
For Android:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap your profile icon and select Payments & subscriptions
- Tap Subscriptions, find TaxBird, and tap Cancel Subscription
Your subscription will remain active through the end of your current billing period, after which it will not renew. If you don't see TaxBird listed in your subscriptions, it may have been purchased under a different Apple ID or Google account — try switching accounts and checking again.
What happens to my account if my subscription expires?
Your data remains securely stored on our servers after expiration. However, without an active subscription you will lose in-app access to your location history, alerts, and reporting features.
If you resubscribe in the future, all of your historical data will be right where you left it.
Before cancelling, we recommend generating yearly reports for any years you may need for your records. You can do this by tapping the + button and selecting Generate Yearly Report for each year.
