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TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

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Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#41

Post by civilized »

NovemberWhiskey wrote: post #19
civilized wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It speaks poorly of some on HN that you would be downvoted for making this argument, which is based on well-known, documented facts. Are there Intuit shills lurking this site?

I've lived and paid taxes in three of the G7 countries, including the US. For what it's worth, I've had to fill out tax assessment forms of greater-or-lesser complexity in all of them. The US is certainly the worst, but the trope that "all other major economies just take care of the tax for you" isn't exactly right.

So long as you're equally critical of all statements that "aren't exactly right" even when they come from groups that advocate for your political preferences, this is a totally fine and reasonable comment.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#42

Post by peeters »

dragosmocrii wrote: post #33

For all Canadians reading this, try WealthSimple Tax (previously SimpleTax). It's pay what you want, and it's a solid product. Nonetheless, tax software should be provided for free by the tax organization (IRS, CRA, etc), it's so stupid to pay for doing your taxes, unless you really need an accountant...

Note that this one has fallen out of favour a bit because WealthSimple stopped supporting end-user encryption so that they could mine your data.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/costofliving/indigenous-nations-and...

It might still be the best of the available options, but the days where it is an obvious choice are over unfortunately.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#44

Post by matwood »

s_dev wrote: post #38
alistairSH wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll flip the question around... How is lobbying different than random voter talking to their representative in person? It isn't really - a lobbyist is just exercising the free speech available to all individuals - they just happen to be doing it on behalf of a group of individuals. I'm purposefully ignoring the whole "corporations are people" aspect because that's a different discussion. But, what you seem to be arg…

Money. Receiving money is the fundamental difference between lobbying and discussing policy with constituents.

Not really - constituents donate money.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#45

Post by Galaxity »

invisible wrote: post #25

I routinely recommend folks use https://www.freetaxusa.com/ for federal taxes. That being said, that this isn't a not-for-profit and/or government service is pretty ridiculous.

I used that one for years and kept paying for their state filing service, until I finally realized other services also do state for free (if you meet the requirements).. and have actually used TurboTax free service for my state returns since then.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#46

Post by lotsofpulp »

DavidPeiffer wrote: post #34
klmadfejno wrote: post #21

I used to say turbo tax wasn't that bad, and that free filing was easy if you just ignored their promises to save you money if you upgraded. Last year however I got all the way to the end of the process where they revealed I made too much and had to pay. That felt extremely unethical, as the information required to come to that conclusion was available far earlier in the process. And yet what am I going to do but use…

>And yet what am I going to do but use turbo tax again. The perceived risk and effort of using a non-automated system to fill them out doesn't seem worth the cost. I'd suggest FreeTaxUSA.com as an alternative. Federal is always free, and state taxes are ~12/state. I don't have anything obscure about my taxes, and their forms indicate they can handle much more complicated situations than I have. I've used them for 3 y…

Why not use the official IRS free file forms?

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#47

Post by [deleted] »

RIMR wrote: post #39
klmadfejno wrote: post #21

I used to say turbo tax wasn't that bad, and that free filing was easy if you just ignored their promises to save you money if you upgraded. Last year however I got all the way to the end of the process where they revealed I made too much and had to pay. That felt extremely unethical, as the information required to come to that conclusion was available far earlier in the process. And yet what am I going to do but use…

There are numerous detailed guides online, including by the IRS, illustrating how to do your own taxes. Unless your finances are extremely complicated, it's fairly easy to do it yourself.

[deleted]

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#48

Post by rndmize »

klmadfejno wrote: post #21

I used to say turbo tax wasn't that bad, and that free filing was easy if you just ignored their promises to save you money if you upgraded. Last year however I got all the way to the end of the process where they revealed I made too much and had to pay. That felt extremely unethical, as the information required to come to that conclusion was available far earlier in the process. And yet what am I going to do but use…

> And yet what am I going to do but use turbo tax again.

At least look into the options. Credit Karma Tax, FreeTaxUSA, 1040.com - there's a bunch of stuff out there made by companies that don't actively try to make the IRS less functional.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#49

Post by mywittyname »

klmadfejno wrote: post #21

I used to say turbo tax wasn't that bad, and that free filing was easy if you just ignored their promises to save you money if you upgraded. Last year however I got all the way to the end of the process where they revealed I made too much and had to pay. That felt extremely unethical, as the information required to come to that conclusion was available far earlier in the process. And yet what am I going to do but use…

Credit Karma is free. Works great, and has no discernable dark patterns. They even have import features from major payroll companies like ADP.

I had to quit turbotax because one year I was a 1099 worker and every year since, it pushes me to go with their "small business edition." Each year it got harder to avoid "upgrading."

Seriously, just do it. Quitting TT is so much easier than quitting anything else.

Re: TurboTax Tricked You into Paying to File Your Taxes (2019)

#50

Post by judge2020 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #46
DavidPeiffer wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>And yet what am I going to do but use turbo tax again. The perceived risk and effort of using a non-automated system to fill them out doesn't seem worth the cost. I'd suggest FreeTaxUSA.com as an alternative. Federal is always free, and state taxes are ~12/state. I don't have anything obscure about my taxes, and their forms indicate they can handle much more complicated situations than I have. I've used them for 3 y…

Why not use the official IRS free file forms?

Based on this site[0], it looks like you have to use a 'partner' to file the forms if you make under $72,000 a year, is that right?

0: https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-f...

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