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
Of course, you shouldn't need to pay anything. That is a false dichotomy.
The way tax returns are done is deliberately abusive to citizens. They'll chase you down if you owe them money, but not if they owe you. In that case you need to jump through flaming hoops every year to appease them. It's not a coincidence.
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-...
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 think people are taking your comment too personally. It's not about an individual doctor, but the healthcare business. It's not about an individual lawyer, but the legal business.
Paying TurboTax $59.99 is cheaper than going to H&R Block and paying a tax preparer $169
Of course, you shouldn't need to pay anything. That is a false dichotomy. The way tax returns are done is deliberately abusive to citizens. They'll chase you down if you owe them money, but not if they owe you. In that case you need to jump through flaming hoops every year to appease them. It's not a coincidence.
The beauty is you don't. If you go to HR's website they basically say "click here to file for free!", and "click here to make an appointment at your nearest office"
Serious question: Is it possible for society to criminalize rent seeking behaviors like this? It seems clear that there's no benefit to keeping the status quo tax filing system except for the benefit of tax preparers. What's stopping the US from creating a law that says if a company attempts to lobby for something in bad faith (like the tax example), they will face sanction?
Everyone should be able to get his taxes done for free by the Government. I pay about $3500/year to get my taxes done and pay a _lot_ in taxes. Why should the 40% of people who contribute little to tax revenue get another government benefit?
Paying TurboTax $59.99 is cheaper than going to H&R Block and paying a tax preparer $169
Of course, you shouldn't need to pay anything. That is a false dichotomy. The way tax returns are done is deliberately abusive to citizens. They'll chase you down if you owe them money, but not if they owe you. In that case you need to jump through flaming hoops every year to appease them. It's not a coincidence.
Not entirely true. I have received money back on taxes that I filed with an error that resulted in my overpayment. So in a simple case, yes they will return money they owe you. But I would not expect them to file an optimized return on your behalf and you probably already know if you should be doing this yourself.
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.
>Simplify the tax code so anyone can do theirs on an index card. Aim higher. In the UK, your employer informs the government about your wages and HMRC figures out how much you paid and whether it's the correct amount. And if you want you can check the numbers. In other countries it's basically the same but you have to log into the e-government portal to click 'yes, the values you have are correct'. Obviously if your…
Yes, of course. Obviously if the IRS knows your income, knows you mortgage interest, interest on savings and dividends and it is all electronically recorded, there what is the point of filing. Only to keep accountants and tax software companies in business. I can guarantee you that if you file a return and copy the numbers in wrong from your W4 you will get a computer generated letter. I did that by accident once I transposed two digits in the amount on a 1099 and I got a letter from them that was computer generated. So obviously they are having computers check it, so what is the point of me wasting time and money on filing. The UK system (and many other countries) is obviously the way to go.
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!
Doctors want you to be sick? - no. HMOs? - maybe.
Lawyers want you in trouble with the law? - no. Prison Corporations? - definitely.
People are generally good, corporations are evil by design.