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Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

nytimes.com

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Re: Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

#2
> A racket is a service that is fraudulently offered to solve a problem, such as for a problem that does not actually exist, that will not be put into effect, or that would not otherwise exist if the racket did not exist. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racket_(crime))

Can someone explain to me how this description does not apply to Intuit?

Re: Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

#5
post #2

> A racket is a service that is fraudulently offered to solve a problem, such as for a problem that does not actually exist, that will not be put into effect, or that would not otherwise exist if the racket did not exist. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racket_(crime) ) Can someone explain to me how this description does not apply to Intuit?

The answer you aren't looking for is that Intuit doesn't actually control the US government.

Re: Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

#7
In other countries it's the employers that pay pretty much all of your taxes. They just keep the taxes from your salary and then when they pay their own taxes they also pay yours.

I do think there's a slight disadvantage in having the taxes essentially "hidden away from you". This could be somewhat alleviated if instead of 10 different taxes there are just 2 or 3 at most, to make the whole thing more understandable.

However, ultimately the benefit of having the taxes automatically done for you, not having to "get into trouble with IRS" or other such issues, is a much bigger benefit than the drawback of having the taxes somewhat hidden from you.

Re: Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

#8
post #2

> A racket is a service that is fraudulently offered to solve a problem, such as for a problem that does not actually exist, that will not be put into effect, or that would not otherwise exist if the racket did not exist. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racket_(crime) ) Can someone explain to me how this description does not apply to Intuit?

The answer you aren't looking for is that Intuit doesn't actually control the US government.

It's clear they have significant influence on this matter.

Re: Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

#10
post #4

Of course I would, since they already do . Whatever I submit is checked by them anyway, and it's generally too expensive and painful to challenge them. So…why do I have to pay the Intuit tax every year?

>So…why do I have to pay the Intuit tax every year?

Because you choose to?

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