Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

propublica.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 454 posts

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#21

Post by j2bax »

olegkikin wrote: post #14
joering2 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same old same old: show me a doctor who doesn't want you to be sick. Show me a lawyer who doesn't want you to get in trouble with law. Show me a priest who doesn't want you to sin. It just blows my mind up to what degree TurboTax will go with this!

Doctors already have more patients than they can handle, that's why they work such crazy shifts.

I was under the impression that they worked crazy schedules so they could work 2-3 days and be off the other 4-5 days each week.

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#22

Post by the_cat_kittles »

geofft wrote: post #16
the_cat_kittles wrote: post #13

slightly off topic, but... you can file for free using any number of tax prep software if you make less than ~64k a year: https://www.irs.gov/uac/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-...

You can file for free at any income level; you just get software assistance if you make less than a certain amount. I file with Free File Fillable Forms, which does the calculations for me, I just have to be comfortable filling in the inputs to the form (and I'm paranoid enough that I want to be reading the form and its instructions anyway). But I don't have complicated deductions... or at least, I don't think I do.

right, should have clarified that. maybe ill go back and use free fillable forms myself, i do kind of hate not knowing whats going on "under the hood"

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#23

Post by geofft »

transfire wrote: post #2

I have a better idea. Simplify the tax code so anyone can do theirs on an index card. There is absolutely no reason for the gargantuan tax code in a free society.

That's what the 1040EZ is. Seriously, take a look at it, it's a single page, only half of which is calculations: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040ez--2016.pdf

If you object that this isn't sufficient for you or someone else, I'll be happy to argue that whatever behavior would make you 1040EZ-ineligible should either not be permitted in a free society (because it's a tax-avoidance scheme for certain types of rich people with political power) or should be taxed as W-2 income (because otherwise it'd become such a tax-avoidance scheme), but good luck getting the people who benefit from those schemes to allow it.

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#24

Post by Ezhik »

joering2 wrote: post #9
Upvoter33 wrote: post #5

well, of course. imagine you are a business and the govmt could change a law and put you out of business. wouldn't you put as much money as you could into preventing that change? this is why money in politics causes problems...

Same old same old: show me a doctor who doesn't want you to be sick. Show me a lawyer who doesn't want you to get in trouble with law. Show me a priest who doesn't want you to sin. It just blows my mind up to what degree TurboTax will go with this!

Show me a doctor who'd spend millions of dollars for me to not get a cure

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#25

Post by blhack »

joering2 wrote: post #9
Upvoter33 wrote: post #5

well, of course. imagine you are a business and the govmt could change a law and put you out of business. wouldn't you put as much money as you could into preventing that change? this is why money in politics causes problems...

Same old same old: show me a doctor who doesn't want you to be sick. Show me a lawyer who doesn't want you to get in trouble with law. Show me a priest who doesn't want you to sin. It just blows my mind up to what degree TurboTax will go with this!

I have never met a doctor (and I think I know a higher-than-average amount of doctors) who wants people to be sick.

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#26

Post by usaphp »

mikeash wrote: post #17
joering2 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same old same old: show me a doctor who doesn't want you to be sick. Show me a lawyer who doesn't want you to get in trouble with law. Show me a priest who doesn't want you to sin. It just blows my mind up to what degree TurboTax will go with this!

I've never met a doctor who wants people to be sick. I'm sure they're out there, but the great majority wants to help people, and would gladly be put out of business.

> "and would gladly be put out of business"

But someone still has pay their student loans :)

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#28

Post by texuf »

bluedino wrote: post #19
elberto34 wrote: post #3

the deep cynicism here is how people think Turbo tax is doing a pubic service by making taxes easier and cheaper, that's how effective their marketing is. Convince the public there is a problem that only said company can solve.

Paying TurboTax $59.99 is cheaper than going to H&R Block and paying a tax preparer $169

The IRS already knows what taxes you owe. In most cases they could just send you a bill.

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#29

Post by nodesocket »

bluedino wrote: post #19
elberto34 wrote: post #3

the deep cynicism here is how people think Turbo tax is doing a pubic service by making taxes easier and cheaper, that's how effective their marketing is. Convince the public there is a problem that only said company can solve.

Paying TurboTax $59.99 is cheaper than going to H&R Block and paying a tax preparer $169

Or $650 which was my fee from H&R last year for one hour of service. (I own a California LLC)

Anybody know a good alternative? I'm thinking about trying TurboTax Self-Employed for $89.99.

Re: How the Maker of TurboTax Fought Free, Simple Tax Filing (2013)

#30

Post by tghw »

Ezhik wrote: post #24
joering2 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same old same old: show me a doctor who doesn't want you to be sick. Show me a lawyer who doesn't want you to get in trouble with law. Show me a priest who doesn't want you to sin. It just blows my mind up to what degree TurboTax will go with this!

Show me a doctor who'd spend millions of dollars for me to not get a cure

The pharma lobby?
Post reply on HN