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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

#191

Post by InclinedPlane »

noer wrote: post #50

This goes way beyond dark patterns and ux strategies to push people towards paid options. This is manipulating search engines to hide their services when searching for "free tax filing". If they're going to offer free services, but hide them from potential customers, they might as well not be offering them. if they're not offering them, then they're not holding up their end of the bargain with the IRS.

Yeah, this isn't just a dark pattern, this is a black hole pattern, this is a scam. With a dark pattern there is a way, if you're careful, to navigate through things and get to the desired outcome. Here there was no such route, you had to have entered from the correct starting place to begin with to have a chance at all, and that entrance was hidden from the public.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#192

Post by jimrhods23 »

metalliqaz wrote: post #4

Yeah they do, of course they do. They are in business to make money, after all. The real story is the absolute travesty of government corruption that TurboTax and HR Block have perpetrated by making it illegal for the government to make tax filing as easy as it should be. It's one of the things I would immediately correct if I was king for a day.

If the government made it easy, the default tax form would give no benefit to the taxpayer. Many uneducated people would just hand it in and not have any write offs/deductions anyway. By making it require a small amount of effort, people are forced to take a look at what they are paying.

People with money/educated about taxes would actually take the time to fill out the forms and benefit from deductions. It wouldn't really make that much of a difference.

I also am wondering what is so difficult about taxes now? Most people with 1 or 2 jobs just need to fill out a 1040 form, which takes an hour or two at most, and send it in.

I really don't think we benefit society by catering to an uneducated/indifferent populace.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#193

Post by InclinedPlane »

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.

Quick question, do you know the difference between paying taxes and filing taxes?

Also, do you understand how withholding works and how you pay taxes with every pay check not just every year? And that if you have too low of an annual income to actually owe any federal tax you need to file in order to get your withholding back?

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#194

Post by mlindner »

The IRS already provides a free-file option, you just need to spend more time reading instructions. https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/before-starting-free-fi...

Not sure what all the hate is here. If you're not completely uneducated, you can figure this out yourself.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#195

Post by dragonwriter »

InclinedPlane wrote: post #193
mruts wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Quick question, do you know the difference between paying taxes and filing taxes? Also, do you understand how withholding works and how you pay taxes with every pay check not just every year? And that if you have too low of an annual income to actually owe any federal tax you need to file in order to get your withholding back?

Even if you file as exempt and have no withholding, you may need to file because of refundable credits (mainly EITC).

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#196

Post by mywittyname »

damian2000 wrote: post #35
dacohenii wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a good Planet Money episode about this, in case you like podcasts: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/03/22/521132960/epis...

That was a great episode, the guy funded a lobbyist from his own pocket to the tune of $70k but still lost

The best part, IMHO, was the Republican Senator they interviewed that came out and said that they (Conservatives in Congress) wanted tax filing to be onerous.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#197

Post by mywittyname »

mars4rp wrote: post #131
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

I am the developer in charge of this, thanks for promoting it.

Thank you for fighting the good fight!

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#198

Post by dragonwriter »

astura wrote: post #181
ryandrake wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Online makes it even easier. I opened a >2.5% 12 mo CD online and it took an hour max. No pre-existing relationship with the bank. The high yield savings accounts tend to have a few strings attached but nothing I’d consider a barrier to someone with at least a job that offers direct deposit. The biggest barrier to getting a 1090-INT is not the bank or the APR. It is having a low income and not enough money to save.

Of course, I'm not arguing its difficult or there are any barriers, I know its easy. However, I literally can't convince a single person beyond my sister to open up a high interest savings account. People just don't want to be bothered. Me? I currently have fifteen (15) bank accounts. Chasing those sign up bonuses.

> However, I literally can't convince a single person beyond my sister to open up a high interest savings account. People just don't want to be bothered.

High-interest savings account are crappy as investments, and I'd you have to go to a different institution (or use a CD, or both) lack the frictionless (and instant) connection to primary checking that is generally the reason to use a savings account vs. a decent investment vehicle.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#199

Post by mywittyname »

kup0 wrote: post #148

TurboTax was free for me up until I tried to report $10 in interest paid on student loans, which is a small, barely necessary form. TT doesn't include this very common form in their free bundle and wanted me to pay $40 to upgrade. While H&R Block also gets criticized- I have to say that they include this form, and I was able to file completely free for both federal and state, without having to hunt for a link- just s…

What happens if you just add $10 to your AGI and omit the interest payments?

My thinking is the IRS will send you a "corrected" return and a $0 bill for the difference. Since that's what they do if you fill out incorrect information anyway.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#200

Post by rando444 »

stagger87 wrote: post #112
vertis wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really makes me appreciate the ATO (Australia). Free online tax filing has been a thing for quite a few years. You end up with an accountant only if your tax is somewhat complex, which tends to correspond with higher income.

So basically the same as the US.

In Australia, like in Europe and most countries, when you log in to do your taxes, your forms are pre-filled with everything the government already has on record for you.

You can add to it or modify it as you see fit, but the vast majority of people just accept the default values and they're done.

Most people spend more time finding their login info than verifying their taxes.

With the amount people complain about the US system, it doesn't sound like they are doing the same thing.

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