We need pre-filled tax forms.
https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...
IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
21–30 of 489 posts
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#22This is good news, right? I'm kind of amazed that good news is happening and that the lobbying forces (eventually) got defeated in this case.
The IRS is perhaps the one government agency that just does not fuck around. It's always sensible to make sure that filing for taxes is as smooth as possible, at least for those who wish to abide by the rules. Follow the money.
unless you're extremely rich[1] or you're a Scientologist.
1 - https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-sorry-but-its-just-ea... 2 - https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling...
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#23There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. And while their at it, match the SSN to the w2 info that they have on file. This would take care of 80% of the population. Just don't outsource it. I'm sure USDS could have it ready in less than a year.
100% agree. To me they seem to be playing this perverse game of knowing how much you owe based on your W-2s then not telling you, waiting for you to file and guess how much you owe just right. If you guess wrong tough luck, you get penalties years later.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#24HN has always been at war with TurboTax. Edit: looks like this line didn't go over so well. To avoid distractions, I'm going to move these links to another post and mark this subthread off topic. Links moved to https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21924055 .
I'm sure if it was a new turbotax.io startup it'd be popular.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#25There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. And while their at it, match the SSN to the w2 info that they have on file. This would take care of 80% of the population. Just don't outsource it. I'm sure USDS could have it ready in less than a year.
What about States? Should the IRS make a online form that will do your state tax too?
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#26HN has always been at war with TurboTax. Edit: looks like this line didn't go over so well. To avoid distractions, I'm going to move these links to another post and mark this subthread off topic. Links moved to https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21924055 .
Yeah, and doctors have always been at war with disease. Good for them.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#27HN has always been at war with TurboTax. Edit: looks like this line didn't go over so well. To avoid distractions, I'm going to move these links to another post and mark this subthread off topic. Links moved to https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21924055 .
>HN has always been at war with TurboTax.
"Snarky trivialization of activism on this issue" seems like the very kind of thing you'd normally discourage.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#28> a years-old prohibition on the IRS creating its own online filing system has been scrapped What kind of insanity leads to this? The government is prohibited from creating software that helps its citizens? There's a lot wrong with Brazil but here I just download the government-provided software (that runs on Windows/Linux/Mac) and fill my taxes in 10-15 minutes. Every year they release a new version that is easier t…
> What kind of insanity leads to this? The government is prohibited from creating software that helps its citizens? "Lobbying" and "campaign contributions", aka paying congresspeople aka straight up corruption but you can't use the C word in US politics. H&R Block and Intuit have been greasing palms for years to keep the agreement in place and encode it in law: https://www.propublica.org/article/congress-is-about-to-…
While I agree there is a money problem, it's not quite so simple as just "paying people off". The money goes to their campaign funds which I'm sure get abused sometimes, but they also get called out and prosecuted for it. Additionally, money donated directly to the politician's fund is limited. Money paid to a PAC is very much separated from the politician. They can't so much as coordinate with the PAC.
So it's more about having money to get reelected than a simple personal bribe.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#29There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. And while their at it, match the SSN to the w2 info that they have on file. This would take care of 80% of the population. Just don't outsource it. I'm sure USDS could have it ready in less than a year.
100% agree. To me they seem to be playing this perverse game of knowing how much you owe based on your W-2s then not telling you, waiting for you to file and guess how much you owe just right. If you guess wrong tough luck, you get penalties years later.
When I've guessed wrong, I've also been rewarded with unexpected large dollar figure checks in the mail. I did once make an error that cost me, and someone at the IRS was excellent in working together over the phone to get things square.
Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax
#30There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. And while their at it, match the SSN to the w2 info that they have on file. This would take care of 80% of the population. Just don't outsource it. I'm sure USDS could have it ready in less than a year.
100% agree. To me they seem to be playing this perverse game of knowing how much you owe based on your W-2s then not telling you, waiting for you to file and guess how much you owe just right. If you guess wrong tough luck, you get penalties years later.
The "penalties" are just what you owed plus interest. I think the IRS will only charge an actual penalty if they think you were deliberately trying to avoid taxes.