TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans from Filing Taxes for Free

Post by HeWhoLurksLate » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 5:11 PM UTC

abustamam wrote: post #182

SkyBelow wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suggest we stop taking taxes out of paychecks and have people pay their full taxes once a year. It would help them see the total amount of taxes they pay. It would have a positive effect on government policy.

You can already see this on your pay stub (if you look at it, I know I don't bother with mine) In principle I like your suggestion but in actuality I think many Americans will not like their "yearly tax bill." Just think about people who are already living paycheck to paycheck; not saving much, or just overall spending every penny that comes into their bank account. They would be in trouble come April if they had to…

Post by rubicon33 » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 5:12 PM UTC

xivzgrev wrote: post #213

mars4rp wrote: post #193

I am the developer in charge of CalFile, the free filing software that everyone asks for here for state of California. https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/ways-to-file/online/calfile/inde... I am pushing so hard to make it better and more useful to more people, like being able to add capital gain that is not currently supported. these are the push backs that I am getting: 1. Last time they tried to do what all of you ask, a…

Dude I salute you. There are so many edge cases to support. For number 2 can you import fed return with calfile? IRS free returns going down too so you are not alone: https://taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/Free_File_Program_Is_Failin... This is a large reason why Prorepublica keeps digging at this - it’s fucking crazy actual free filing is going down while these paid shenanigan products are holding strong with their ginorm…

Post by knz » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 5:13 PM UTC

SkyBelow wrote: post #157

mywittyname wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I see no reason why these products have a right to exist (and especially not be canonized), especially with how exploitive they are or can be. But if we remove the annual pain of dealing with taxes, then Americans will get complacent and may stop being bothered by having to pay taxes. - The serious ideology of a major American political party vis-a-vis taxes.

I suggest we stop taking taxes out of paychecks and have people pay their full taxes once a year. It would help them see the total amount of taxes they pay. It would have a positive effect on government policy.

Post by tombert » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 5:16 PM UTC

inetknght wrote: post #232

tombert wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, that's always an option, but due the complexity of the tax codes, it's very easy to make a mistake when doing everything yourself. For example, I used to work in New Jersey, and live in New York, meaning I would have to file two state tax returns, in addition to the federal. There are weird rules that you can deduct one state's taxes from the other, and then deduct the remainder from the federal taxes. The rule…

How much was the fine? What sort of mistake was made?

Post by Rebelgecko » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 5:17 PM UTC

rubicon33 wrote: post #283

xivzgrev wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dude I salute you. There are so many edge cases to support. For number 2 can you import fed return with calfile? IRS free returns going down too so you are not alone: https://taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/Free_File_Program_Is_Failin... This is a large reason why Prorepublica keeps digging at this - it’s fucking crazy actual free filing is going down while these paid shenanigan products are holding strong with their ginorm…

Is it really as simple as that? Budget trumps all? With all due respect to the OP, most state run software operations are complete, utter, garbage. I'd happily pay money to avoid some of the clunky, poor UI/UX, and downright broken web tools that the state of California produces. TurboTax on the other hand, is a relatively nice experience.