Intuit, the owner of TurboTax is one of the largest players in tax e-filing. How do they seem to employ so many dark patterns with little complaint from consumers? TurboTax employs user hostile UI patterns that attempt to get consent to release filing information to Intuit and 3rd parties, switch to more expensive plans, and open new Credit Karma accounts (another Intuit owned property). I don’t understand why consumers are not more frustrated.
Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
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Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#2They are frustrated, they're simply not aware that Intuit and other players have exercised regulatory capture to make it so awful and blame "the government" since the IRS is the face of it.
Other modernized nations have nothing like this insanity, often sending people yearly reports they can accept (since for most cases they are accurate) or send in amendments. This is far from the only issue that business interests have made the USA almost uniquely fucking stupid about.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#3From what I understand (and I could be wrong) they spend a decent amount of money lobbying politicians in Congress.
Customers are very much frustrated though and I believe the Cash app started letting people file taxes for free this year.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#4No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#5They are frustrated, they're simply not aware that Intuit and other players have exercised regulatory capture to make it so awful and blame "the government" since the IRS is the face of it. Other modernized nations have nothing like this insanity, often sending people yearly reports they can accept (since for most cases they are accurate) or send in amendments. This is far from the only issue that business interests…
That’s my frustration. Tax filing should be a free service of the IRS for everyone. The process could be much better too. The IRS already has my W2s, 1099s, etc. There’s no reason I need to resupply what they already know.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#6No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#7The final straw for me was in 2019. My 3 year old version of QuickBooks Pro refused to import any more bank transactions until I upgraded to a newer version. Nothing had changed with data formats or anything -- it was simple extortion: upgrade or the software you own will cease working (fully).
Fuck them. I just wrote my own. I first tried some alternatives like GNUcash, but found it best to just write what I needed (account ledgers, reconcile bank statements, generate P&L and BS reports). I refused any other solution with any dependencies on "the cloud" or any entity.
QB is truly about the shittiest software on the planet, a reputation maintained and expanded over the decades. The simplest recourse, with minimal emotional toll, is to just not use their crap.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#8People only file their taxes once a year and just want to move on.
Industries with infrequent transactions are more prone to abuse like this.
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#9They are frustrated, they're simply not aware that Intuit and other players have exercised regulatory capture to make it so awful and blame "the government" since the IRS is the face of it. Other modernized nations have nothing like this insanity, often sending people yearly reports they can accept (since for most cases they are accurate) or send in amendments. This is far from the only issue that business interests…
That’s my frustration. Tax filing should be a free service of the IRS for everyone. The process could be much better too. The IRS already has my W2s, 1099s, etc. There’s no reason I need to resupply what they already know.
There is a reason - lobbying: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-f...
Re: Ask HN: How does TurboTax get away with dark patterns?
#10Dark patterns are evil, not illegal (usually). And virtually anyone with sufficient political influence to do anything about this uses an actual accountant rather than DIY.