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TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

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Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#151

Post by saagarjha »

rdiddly wrote: post #94

Who wants to just start writing a free version and start putting them out of business? Filing taxes is not the Linux kernel, I mean how complicated is it really? It's still just a matter of following directions and doing basic math. Computers are great at that. No rocket science needed. I even thought of a name: Caesar (as in "render unto..."). Caesar.org is available. At the end it generates a PDF for printing & mai…

I feel like this might open up liability, or at least substantial "badwill" if the software messes something up?

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#152

Post by pwinnski »

OrgNet wrote: post #52
pwinnski wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because companies like TurboTax work to ensure it remains as complicated as possible, and seems even more complicated than it actually is.

How do they even get into that business? They see the tax filling process and think "hey, it's too easy, let make it harder and sell a product to make it easier" (I'm clearly not a business person).

Mostly by lobbying politicians for extra exemptions that make taxes more complicated, but also by directly lobbying against bills that would simplify things.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#153

Post by astura »

mruts wrote: post #24

Why do low income people need any software to file taxes in the first place? If you just make a wage taxes are trivial.

I agree.

However, many people, both low and high income, know absolutely nothing about taxes and tax forms or how complicated or not complicated their tax situation may be or how much effort they'd spend on tax filing. People are taught the tax code is really complicated and they are really worried about screwing up. Furthermore, TurboTax has become so big that many new filers just kinda think "Do Taxes = TurboTax" without really considering that they can do it without tax software.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#154

Post by tomkat0789 »

CalRobert wrote: post #127

Meanwhile, California makes it pretty easy to file your state taxes for free, with no intermediary https://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/calfile/index.asp

Illinois does too on the state Department of Revenue's website! Hooray for state government!

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#155

Post by dominotw »

themagician wrote: post #73
linsomniac wrote: post #37

Govt: "We need some money from you to buy things." Me: "How much?" Govt: "You figure it out." Me: "Oh, I get to pay whatever I want?" Govt: "LOL, no, we have a figure that we want you to pay." Me: "What happens if I guess that number wrong?" Govt: "You get to go to prison."

You only go to prison if you willfully and purposely try to defraud the government. It’s more of a, “Pay what you believe you owe based on your best guess and the laws as you best understand them, and if we disagree we may ask you to pay more.”

> willfully and purposely try to defraud the government.

whats the standard for willfully vs a mistake?

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#156

Post by astura »

mruts wrote: post #133
Broken_Hippo wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is true that lower income folks tend to have simpler taxes and really don't need software. The taxes are easy on paper. But e-file still wins. Most poor folks could really use the money they get back from taxes and it is definitely quicker. E-file also saves folks from doing things like making copies, buying stamps, and mailing. On top of it all, there is a fair amount less chance of mistakes. Not to mention that…

Poor people don’t pay any taxes in the first place. So the point is moot.

I was once one of those "so poor I didn't owe any income taxes" people you are talking about. Know how I didn't pay income tax? I filed my tax return at the end of the year and got a refund for 100% of the taxes taken out of my check.

People who receive any sort of taxable income file taxes, not just people who pay taxes on that income.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#157

Post by anticensor »

ummonk wrote: post #96
bunderbunder wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correction: 100% of taxpayers are eligible for free filing, and 70% of them are eligible for free electronic filing. The options out there for free e-filing are hardly any better than the paper option, though. They're typically just the paper forms translated very directly into an electronic fill-in form. You're still left to your own to make sense of all the byzantine rules and instructions, and to grind through it…

USPS is not free.

Go to your tax office if post is more expensive than physically going to a tax office.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#159

Post by bunderbunder »

ummonk wrote: post #96
bunderbunder wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Correction: 100% of taxpayers are eligible for free filing, and 70% of them are eligible for free electronic filing. The options out there for free e-filing are hardly any better than the paper option, though. They're typically just the paper forms translated very directly into an electronic fill-in form. You're still left to your own to make sense of all the byzantine rules and instructions, and to grind through it…

USPS is not free.

Come to think of it, I had to pay for the paper and toner, too.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#160

Post by justwalt »

ahallock wrote: post #98
ppseafield wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Intuit lobbies to keep taxes complicated so they can continue to have a business model. https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-fre...

And this is surprising because? It would be surprising if they didn't do that, honestly. The government is at fault here for selling political power and not representing the interests of the people. We could boycott Intuit, I suppose, or use different products, but aside from that, the fault and source of the problem lies squarely with the government.

I think it’s reasonable to feel surprise at learning that this is allowed to happen. Why the surprise-at-surprise style reaction? It makes people feel a bit mocked.
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