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IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

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Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#71

Post by _delirium »

lokar wrote: post #31
rb808 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about States? Should the IRS make a online form that will do your state tax too?

They could provide an API to the states that makes doing the state return (once federal is done) very easy. And provide a link, etc.

The IRS has a start at that. States can opt into the "Combined Federal/State Filing Program", which centralizes 1099 reporting, and lets states basically copy the IRS's data for those forms instead of collecting it themselves. I believe this program doesn't currently handle W-2s though for some reason.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#72

Post by mkhpalm »

coldpie wrote: post #44
jjeaff wrote: post #11

There 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.

> There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. It is largely due to Republicans that we don't have such a program. Voting matters. https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...

Both parties have been very much in charge of this tax situation in America. Both parties have had many, MANY, majority rule situations over the past decades they could have done anything else about it. Nobody would have been stopping either of them at different points in time if they ever wanted to cash in on their party rhetoric.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#73

Post by Ericson2314 »

zozbot234 wrote: post #15
tunesmith wrote: post #2

This 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.

Many agencies are well-intentioned but wear congressional straight jackets. It's not all Anjit Pai land.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#74

Post by opportune »

xtracto wrote: post #38

This USA tax thing has always baffled me... it is the exact definition of why we pay taxes: for the government to provide services that are common to the country´s citizens. There´s nothing more common than tax collection: rich, middle class or poor. Why wouldn't citizens demand a public tax filing process? Even in Mexico we have an automagical tax filing process that makes: a) The great majority of the population wh…

Even a lot of the more complex things could be automated.

For example, the only slightly complex thing about my taxes are capital gains and interest. It would not be hard to have my brokerages/banks coordinate with the IRS to autopay my taxes on that as well, just like my income taxes are auto paid.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#75

Post by TylerE »

ars wrote: post #58
coldpie wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. It is largely due to Republicans that we don't have such a program. Voting matters. https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...

Are we reading the same article? Don't invent partisan issues, the article makes it clear it's not a "Republican" thing, it's an Intuit thing.

Did you read it? Intuit lobbied....Republicans.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#76

Post by hinkley »

theonemind wrote: post #13
gtirloni wrote: post #3

> 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…

You'll hear differently, but: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLKePI0ZbnT69klhhdVXnd9-e... the US effectively functions as a plutocracy. Public opinion and interest just doesn't matter.

The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.

We have systems in place to push back against the slow but incessant march (back) to plutocracy, but we don't always use them in a timely fashion. After almost 250 years there's been some... entropy.

Except it's not entropy, it's order (which helps with the sales pitch). Just not the kind of order everybody needs.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#77

Post by hanniabu »

jjeaff wrote: post #11

There 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.

> Just don't outsource it

But how else would you charge millions for half broken and otherwise still shitty software and UIs? Sorry I'm super bitter because all the government sites are absolutely garbage and so many links for more information, explanations, other forms, etc, don't even work and makes dealing with anything related to the government the most frustrating experience.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#78

Post by quasse »

ars wrote: post #58
coldpie wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. It is largely due to Republicans that we don't have such a program. Voting matters. https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...

Are we reading the same article? Don't invent partisan issues, the article makes it clear it's not a "Republican" thing, it's an Intuit thing.

FTA:

>> That morning, Frommer polled his colleagues in the Assembly and found they were a vote short. No Republicans would vote for the bill, and some Democrats would vote ‘no’ too.

>> Once again, Intuit had blocked ReadyReturn.

It's definitely an Intuit thing, but being bought by Intuit seems to be a majority Republican thing.

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#79

Post by hanniabu »

coldpie wrote: post #44
jjeaff wrote: post #11

There 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.

> There is no reason the IRS shouldn't have a simple, online fillable 1099EZ that makes the calculations and validations for you. It is largely due to Republicans that we don't have such a program. Voting matters. https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...

> Voting matters

Gerrymandering and voter purging matters

Re: IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete with TurboTax

#80

Post by iudqnolq »

hexeater wrote: post #68
coldpie wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you actually gotten a penalty? The IRS is just interested in gathering its taxes, it has no interest in punishing you. You have to mess up pretty hard and/or deliberately to get the IRS on your case.

I have gotten IRS penalties/interest due to my incorrectly reporting. I was confused about how to report RSU and Stock Option income, and then I was doubly confused about how to do quarterly filings. I am REALLY trying to do this on my own without an accountant. I think I got it right with 2019, but I will find in a few week how far off I am when I try to file. I'd say my interaction feels like the IRS is just painti…

A trick for when you're trying a strategy you aren't sure of:

you can overpay the IRS by the amount you would pay if the exceptions you are pretty sure apply actually didn't.

They will return the extra to you, and you lose the interest that money could have earned but gain the knowledge for next year of whether you can or can't do what you wanted to try. Depending on your specifics might be cheaper than a tax adviser.

Disclaimer: YMMV, I'm not a tax advisor, I pulled this out of my * * *, etc.

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