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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

#131

Post by johnwalkr »

refurb wrote: post #83
kuyan wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Broadly, a couple reasons: - Tax prep companies like Intuit have a vested interest in keeping tax prep difficult. - Grover Norquist (Americans for Tax Reform) believes that making filing taxes easier will make people more okay with paying taxes, and as a result, many conservative policymakers won't bite. (It's slightly more complicated than this, but I believe this assessment to be accurate.) Here's a Planet Money po…

Is it the same in Canada? We have complex forms as well and software to help fill out forms.

It’s not as bad but the second reason is similar to why GST is added at the till. Certain politicians want to make sure the citizenry is angry about taxes.

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

#132

Post by refurb »

johnwalkr wrote: post #131
refurb wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it the same in Canada? We have complex forms as well and software to help fill out forms.

It’s not as bad but the second reason is similar to why GST is added at the till. Certain politicians want to make sure the citizenry is angry about taxes.

Well suffice to say the population was pissed off when Mulroney passed the GST. So much he had to add extra senators to the Senate to get it passed.

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

#133

Post by c17r »

systemvoltage wrote: post #73
janwillemb wrote: post #26

In the Netherlands the tagline of the tax authorities used to be "we can't make it funnier, but we can make it easier". Most tax forms are online and pre-filled with data they already have. For most people it's probably a matter of minutes.

I prefer the US style actually. The government assumes flexibility, citizen’s responsibility and their ability to challenge their calculations / deductions by default . When that’s not the case, there is 1040-EZ [1] for people who want to simplify. 1040-EZ can be done in 10 mins max. I also enjoy filing taxes. It’s one of those things that allow you to reflect on your work, how you did, optimize the deductions, and g…

The 1040EZ was eliminated in 2018.

All you want would still be possible under a system where the govt pre-fills forms. It’s just the 99.9% of Americans who DON’T find it to be fun would get a leg up.

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

#134

Post by timoth »

syshum wrote: post #122
Robin_Message wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don't think anyone would support that, but that's not what happens -- you can see the breakdown of gross/net salary & taxes on every payslip you receive from your employer, as well as on your annual P60 https://www.gov.uk/paye-forms-p45-p60-p11d/p60

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

#135

Post by Super_Jambo »

MuffinFlavored wrote: post #59
Hamuko wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A good reason? No. A reason? Lobbying.

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…

America has a huge economy & relatively few legislators. The return on investment for corruption in America is _huge_ compared with other democratic countries.

I do think the FPTP system in the US and UK concentrates power. And that makes them better able to exploit foreign countries (Arms deals, coups etc). But that seems less about lobbying it's more that the concentration of power makes lobbying more profitable.

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

#136

Post by thanksforfish »

evolve2k wrote: post #128
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.]

Various tax law changes could make that inaccurate.

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

#137

Post by fooqux »

warent wrote: post #109
harikb wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not just that it is blank, it is expected that certain things that you fill match what they already know. It is more like a test, where you get nothing if you answer correctly and penalty if you make a mistake. Note: IRS does provide a way to download what they know as a pdf (what banks reported, for example), so one can get some help with the "test"

I don't think this is exactly right is it? My understanding is it's not about testing you, it's just a matter of resource allocation in a severely inefficient system. The IRS does not have the resources to manually verify all of everyone's income, so instead they use a process of flags which trigger audits of varying depth. Flags include things such as certain reported amounts/types of values. Shallow audits review s…

Companies like Intuit have successfully lobbied our government to halt any sort of bill that would make it better. The entire thing could be easily automated; other countries have proved that. But then Turbo tax wouldn't get to rake in all that $$$.

Seriously though, I would love (hate) to read what sort of ethical backflips they had to do to make IRS reform a bad thing. I'm presuming they tried to make logical arguments.

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

#138

Post by da_big_ghey »

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!

Can one not purchase anything anonymously? The state is allowed to keep track of everything everyone buys? All for a little tax benefit? That is horrible.

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

#139

Post by da_big_ghey »

timwis wrote: post #75
systemvoltage wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the US style actually. The government assumes flexibility, citizen’s responsibility and their ability to challenge their calculations / deductions by default . When that’s not the case, there is 1040-EZ [1] for people who want to simplify. 1040-EZ can be done in 10 mins max. I also enjoy filing taxes. It’s one of those things that allow you to reflect on your work, how you did, optimize the deductions, and g…

Don’t forget the state form that you have to do. Add that to your ten minutes and complexity rating.

Imagine having state income tax, couldn't be me.

- A Texan

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

#140

Post by thanksforfish »

This is really cool, and I'd like to encourage work like this. I currently don't think I can recommend this to others because:

It isn't immediately obvious who is running the site. whois info lists a Canadian privacy company. The site doesn't have an about page. Github has contributor info, which may help. Tax returns need to be private and accurate. If it's hard to verify that the authors are even in the US, it's had to know if this is a scam.

I think the project is still young, and the above is likely something addressable. Partnering with some accountants may be a way to fund further development/maintenance through referrals. Good luck!

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