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

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

#381

Post by Symbiote »

schainks wrote: post #170

So, just for a different perspective, Taiwan has a relatively simple tax filing experience, and the government invests significant resources to make as simple as possible (which does result in many people paying their taxes properly, on time). While their digital tools for filing taxes make the telegraph feel modern, the "in person" experience is full of helpful people and takes about 90 minutes including travel time…

> Double taxation on people like US citizens.

That's America that's out of step. Almost all other countries only tax their residents, not their residents plus citizens. It's normal to tax worldwide income.

I told the British tax office that I'd left the country. They sent a refund and final statement a few months later, and we haven't communicated since.

If I had, for example, a house in Britain being rented out, I'd need to declare that income to my new country.

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

#382

Post by simonh »

em3rgent0rdr wrote: post #355
chasing wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I love paying taxes. Not because I like having less money in my bank account, but because I understand what paying taxes represents.

If people in general "loved" paying taxes, then taxation could be replaced with a voluntary system. It is precisely the fact that the people who love paying taxes are a minority that coercion has to be used.

I don't think that's a fair assessment. Time and time again voters approve plans to increase spending on things they want to have. If the people generally really wanted to drastically reduce government spending and reduce their tax burden they could vote for it, but they don't as long as they think they're getting a fair enough share of benefits from it.

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

#383

Post by VexXtreme »

rayiner wrote: post #223
krisroadruck wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You... love paying taxes?

I'm an immigrant. I consider it a blessing to be able to do so.

That makes sense if you're a 3rd world immigrant, because the value delta between your old life and your new life is immense. For someone born in a 1st world country, it makes little sense to compare their situation with that of a 3rd world denizen. Reference points are subjective. I take issue with the way my government collects taxes and how it distributes them. I don't care how Africa or India are doing.

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

#386

Post by audunw »

Hermel wrote: post #318
chasing wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I love paying taxes. Not because I like having less money in my bank account, but because I understand what paying taxes represents.

In what country are you paying taxes? And is your tax rate above or below 30%? Based on anecdotal evidence, I think that people paying more than 30% rarely ever "love" paying taxes. Below that, it seems to feel much more ok (I'm also below 30% and - while I'm not enthusiastic about paying taxes - it feels like a fair deal).

Tax rate above 30% here. Considering I just finished a master degree education that was virtually free, with even living costs heavily subsidized (both stipend and ridiculously low student loan interest), I pay my taxes gladly. I'm not sure I will be a net positive for the government for another decade at least.

I think free higher education is one thing that really help sell higher taxes to high income earners. Free(ish) healthcare is awesome, but you get the feeling that it mostly benefits poorer and older people. Free higher education is comparatively cheap, but it makes our lives simpler and stress free.

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

#387

Post by pricechild »

simonh wrote: post #380
SpaceRaccoon wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, funding a $600 billion military industrial complex [0]. Just think, your complete yearly taxes were probably almost enough for a single JDAM [1] which was then dropped on Iraq, in a war where 13% of all civilians were killed directly by US-led forces [2], and many more in the chaos that ensued from the invasion. But you love it. [0] - https://www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/military-spendi... [1] - https://…

The problem with that isn't taxation, it's voting in people who approve that spending. UK tax payer here, so the specifics are different, but I have no problem paying my taxes. We have decent free health care, a capable and I think 'right sized' armed forces for our needs, competent policing and security services and my children get free education. If any of those things were not true I wouldn't necessarily want my t…

I found https://uk.wikibudgets.org/w/united-kingdom-budget-2015 a few days ago.

I had assumed the defense budget was larger, it was a nice way of displaying the information.

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

#388

Post by nickez »

Hermel wrote: post #318
chasing wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I love paying taxes. Not because I like having less money in my bank account, but because I understand what paying taxes represents.

In what country are you paying taxes? And is your tax rate above or below 30%? Based on anecdotal evidence, I think that people paying more than 30% rarely ever "love" paying taxes. Below that, it seems to feel much more ok (I'm also below 30% and - while I'm not enthusiastic about paying taxes - it feels like a fair deal).

I'm from Sweden, way above 30%, still love to pay taxes. Countries where they avoid to pay taxes at all cost like Greece is usually a reminder of why it is important that the government really enforces tax paying and that the taxes are high.

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

#389

Post by oblio »

joering2 wrote: post #332
azernik wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's fantastic. Especially the theft part.

Im not sure if there is anythng special about it. You can take a bribe, get caught and sentenced but that doesn't excuse you from paying taxes. IRS just wants their cut; they are not criminal law enforcers, just a collection agency.

I think the common expectation is that the illegal income/property will be seized by the state and hopefully returned to its rightful owner. No need to tax anything since the thief won't have anything left at the end.

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

#390

Post by chongli »

Gustomaximus wrote: post #324
ruleabidinguser wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why precisely is having the worlds largest military bad? Do you think it doesnt add any value? It seems theres a lot of people outside of America who'd like to see it shrunk for very bad reasons. Why not keep the military and solve our problems without it? We need it to be safe now, and until we've already solved our problems, we'll still need it. Obviously it doesn't always work well and it definitely causes problem…

The bad is there is an opportunity cost of dollars spent. And the US could likely still dominate global firepower rankings at half the current spend, meanwhile this saving could significantly improve the education or health system with that money. Or reduce the tax burden on people. Or simply bank it to reduce the debt and burden of repayment for future years. Lots you could do with hundreds of billions.

The US operates on the principle that it must outspend the next 2 countries in military spending. It's an insurance policy in case say, Russia and China team up against the US.
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