TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans from Filing Taxes for Free

Post by winrid » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 2:22 AM UTC

mars4rp wrote: post #193

I am the developer in charge of CalFile, the free filing software that everyone asks for here for state of California. https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde... I am pushing so hard to make it better and more useful to more people, like being able to add capital gain that is not currently supported. these are the push backs that I am getting: 1. Last time they tried to do what all of you ask, a…

Post by 77pt77 » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 2:46 AM UTC

spoontoeat wrote: post #260

mars4rp wrote: post #193

I am the developer in charge of CalFile, the free filing software that everyone asks for here for state of California. https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde... I am pushing so hard to make it better and more useful to more people, like being able to add capital gain that is not currently supported. these are the push backs that I am getting: 1. Last time they tried to do what all of you ask, a…

Hats off to you, sir. Please don't stop the work you do. Thank you! After college I quickly weaned myself off TurboTax in favor of filing taxes for free with CalFile & Free Fillable Forms with an occasional paper mailing of PDFs that I download and fill out. Much like my opposition to using proprietary word processors, my disdain of paid tax return services that own your data is deep and profound. While a bit painful…

Post by antipropaganda » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 3:07 AM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #288

rubicon33 wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it really as simple as that? Budget trumps all? With all due respect to the OP, most state run software operations are complete, utter, garbage. I'd happily pay money to avoid some of the clunky, poor UI/UX, and downright broken web tools that the state of California produces. TurboTax on the other hand, is a relatively nice experience.

I am tired of for-profit companies hamstringing government using bribes to representatives and funding lobbyists from delivering inexpensive or free services to citizens. If someone wants to pay TurboTax, that is fine. If someone wants to continue to support their efforts to stymie government from delivering said services for free, they should be tarred and feathered. Intuit's tax products are regulatory capture, pla…

Post by HeWhoLurksLate » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 4:15 AM UTC

sokoloff wrote: post #375

jimmydddd wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I sort of agree with the pain guys. I'm currently self employed (US) and have to separately pay estimated taxes quarterly. Since I've been doing this, I'm a lot more sensitive to politicians who want to raise my taxes. Similarly, there is a group in the US whose main goal is to change the law so that employers can't pay your taxes on your behalf. Instead, you would get your full salary, and then have to write a check…

I've often heard (and like) the suggestion that this annual payment be due the week before Election Day.

Post by mc3 » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 4:52 AM UTC

tombert wrote: post #287

inetknght wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much was the fine? What sort of mistake was made?

Fine wasn't that big, on the order of $150. It wasn't actually directly due to the multi-state thing. I paid for my wife's college, and NY has a thing to let you deduct tuition from dependents on taxes. I had forgotten to attach the proof of payment for tuition, leading to me getting audited (in the most technical send of the word) and fined slightly. The biggest pain in the ass was the back-and-forth I had to do to…