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Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

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Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#121

Post by sokoloff »

schoen wrote: post #46
m463 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the good reason: some people are philosophically opposed to easy taxes - people should be painfully aware of the money they are giving to the government. (sort of like folks who have VAT complain about advertised US retail prices which don't include tax) The bad reason: Lobbying by intuit and parties to prevent easy tax preparation. Their ROI on regulatory capture is very very good.

I think something that would help to make people much more aware of their tax rates is getting rid of automated W-2 deductions, so that virtually all taxpayers would individually have to pay money out of their own bank accounts. Having the filing process be complicated or tedious doesn't really do much to give people a more accurate perspective on the financial burden of taxation to them. If you could get your tax fo…

I’d go further and make the filings/payments due the Tuesday after the first Monday in October (about a month before general elections) so the debates on government programs and policies can be held in context to what those programs cost.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#122

Post by syshum »

Robin_Message wrote: post #72
vages wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Great! Do you have an example of a form from your home country (assuming you don't live in the US)?

Most UK citizens never fill in a tax form. VAT is handled by shops for you. Council tax (local tax based on property value) you are sent a bill based on the value of your property. There are various exemptions and deductions for exceptional cases, but otherwise you just pay the amount. Income taxes are deducted by your employer from your paycheck under a system called PAYE (pay as you earn). It works basically perfec…

I would 100% opposed to this type of opaque tax system where the amount of money taken by the government is never reveled to the people it is taken from.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#123

Post by jamexcb »

In Portugal, because everything you buy you need to provide your VAT number, even if you buy one coffee. And all medical are also electronic. And your employer also submit all the money you earn. Taxes are automatic. You just need to review and add extra stuff if needed. It takes about 10/15 min to do. Of course there are exceptions!

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#124

Post by mustyoshi »

KirillPanov wrote: post #92
refurb wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is income tax and income is public in many of these countries.

You've got to be kidding me. Like if I have somebody's name I can just call up their government and ask what their salary is? I find that hard to believe. Please name these countries.

"You can also check if someone has searched for you. If you search for anyone, they can see that you did"

This is why it's not as bad as you think.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#125

Post by sokoloff »

geogra4 wrote: post #108

I'm happy paying the modest fee for taxact. I do agree America has such an annoying tax system though. Why am I filling out forms if the irs already has this information!

For the most part, they haven’t processed it by the time April 15 rolls around. Your tax transcript is often incomplete until late summer.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#126

Post by Rayhem »

snorremd wrote: post #102
ac29 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In Sweden, the employers are responsible for reporting your income and banks your profits on sales of stocks, funds, and real estate. This is true in the US as well, but the tax authority (IRS) gives you nothing but blank forms to fill out yourself.

As I understand it this is a result of big tax software companies and accounting firms lobbying to keep tax filing as complex as possible so there is still a market for them. If taxes were as easy to file as in countries like Norway and Sweden the market for accountants and tax filing software for private citizens would plummet.

Also the right who view tax simplification as a tax increase. The idea being that people are less involved with the process if they just click OK, and are therefore more accommodating of tax increases.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#127

Post by metiscus »

consp wrote: post #100
MuffinFlavored wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? Is it just a double-edged sword that we have to thank for making us (one of) the economic powerhouse(s) of the world? At the same time, it feels like it to blame on why we can't have anything nice when compared to European countries. Am I out of line/uneducated on this matter? I very well could be. I hate just chalking the root of problems up to so…

> Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? My guess would be the will to collect taxes is stronger than the lobbying to make it more difficult. In Europe there is far less opposition to taxation as well.

One of the major reasons for the independence of the United States from the United Kingdom was a tax revolt. Anti-tax opinion is deeply rooted in the culture for better or worse.

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#128

Post by evolve2k »

spankalee wrote: post #23

How would you know that a project like this is computing taxes correctly?

A practical self-test would be to enter up your last years tax return as is and compare the assessment to what you actual assessment was.

[Having proper unit tests as specs is a much cooler answer.]

Re: Show HN: ustaxes.org – open-source tax filing webapp

#129

Post by Gys »

jamexcb wrote: post #123

In Portugal, because everything you buy you need to provide your VAT number, even if you buy one coffee. And all medical are also electronic. And your employer also submit all the money you earn. Taxes are automatic. You just need to review and add extra stuff if needed. It takes about 10/15 min to do. Of course there are exceptions!

There is no obligation to give your VAT number.

But many do because you have a tiny chance to win a lottery. Yes, they do it even for one coffee (0.70 euro...).

I do not understand why there is still no system to easily transfer that fiscal number. For example with a qrcode or RFID. You pay electronically with card, often only by just touching your card, phone or even watch, but then have to give a memorized 9 digit number which the deskperson has to type correctly.

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