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IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

washingtonpost.com

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Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#4

Hopefully it does. The tax system here is ridiculous to say the least.

I lived in four countries before moving to the USA and none of them required me to file at all. As an ordinary employee, taxes were PAYE (Pay as you Earn) and there was no complicated system of tax exemptions that aren't either handled directly at source, or as separate rebates (like child allowance payments). I long for that day in the USA.

Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#5
It is WAY past time for this. It's absurd that we have to regurgitate tax information that has already been reported to the government. But it's even more absurd that the government gives us no way to do so electronically.

And then there's the disgusting shell game that IS the entire U.S. tax system, which is the root of the whole problem.

But... didn't Congress pass some corrupt legislation years ago that made it illegal for the government to set up a tax-filing Web site? What happened to this: https://www.propublica.org/article/congress-is-about-to-ban-...

Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#7

It is WAY past time for this. It's absurd that we have to regurgitate tax information that has already been reported to the government. But it's even more absurd that the government gives us no way to do so electronically. And then there's the disgusting shell game that IS the entire U.S. tax system, which is the root of the whole problem. But... didn't Congress pass some corrupt legislation years ago that made it il…

> [1] on April 22, 2019 ProPublica published an exposé heavily criticizing the implementation of the Free File Program, which the bill would codify. The House then removed the Free File provision from the bill, which passed the House and Senate and was then signed by the president.

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxpayer_First_Act

Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#8

It is WAY past time for this. It's absurd that we have to regurgitate tax information that has already been reported to the government. But it's even more absurd that the government gives us no way to do so electronically. And then there's the disgusting shell game that IS the entire U.S. tax system, which is the root of the whole problem. But... didn't Congress pass some corrupt legislation years ago that made it il…

Never happened. Thanks Propublica! https://www.propublica.org/article/irs-reforms-free-file-pro...

Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#9

It is WAY past time for this. It's absurd that we have to regurgitate tax information that has already been reported to the government. But it's even more absurd that the government gives us no way to do so electronically. And then there's the disgusting shell game that IS the entire U.S. tax system, which is the root of the whole problem. But... didn't Congress pass some corrupt legislation years ago that made it il…

Looks like the bill as passed didn't include that provision?

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3151

Re: IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax prep giants

#10
post #7

It is WAY past time for this. It's absurd that we have to regurgitate tax information that has already been reported to the government. But it's even more absurd that the government gives us no way to do so electronically. And then there's the disgusting shell game that IS the entire U.S. tax system, which is the root of the whole problem. But... didn't Congress pass some corrupt legislation years ago that made it il…

> [1] on April 22, 2019 ProPublica published an exposé heavily criticizing the implementation of the Free File Program, which the bill would codify. The House then removed the Free File provision from the bill, which passed the House and Senate and was then signed by the president. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxpayer_First_Act

Thanks! Just read through all the provisions in the law and indeed noted the lack of any apparent reference to this disgraceful scheme.
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