IRS to begin trial of its own free tax-filing system

Post by dimal » Sat, Jan 06, 2024, 7:10 PM UTC

GreedClarifies wrote: post #33

jacobyoder wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutist takes like this never achieve much. Yes, it could be better. But an mvp-type launch that does some things well, without trying to achieve everything on day one, would definitely not be a "complete waste". If successful, it's laying the base for the next iterations of functionality. For a lot of folks, they have one or two W2 forms to enter, and that's it. It's really not that hard. If even a million or so…

The IRS should play try to create an actual MVP. Create an API which allow for efile (which I assume already exists given turbotax) and create an API which allows the download whatever information the IRS has on the tax payer. Then allow companies or open source software to create whatever value add they want on top of these APIs. That sounds like a minimalist launch.

Post by simtel20 » Sat, Jan 06, 2024, 7:11 PM UTC

GreedClarifies wrote: post #18

k2enemy wrote: post #3

> A spokeswoman for Intuit, Tania Mercado, criticized the direct file project as a “half-baked solution” and a waste of taxpayer money. “The direct file scheme is a solution in search of a problem,” she said. Wow, I thought that Intuit would have gone for a little more subtlety.

From the article and from a poster below: "For the pilot participants will have to enter their own financial information, the I.R.S. said." It is indeed a complete waste of taxpayer money unless they actually prefill with the IRS' data.

Post by LargeTomato » Sat, Jan 06, 2024, 7:13 PM UTC

crazydoggers wrote: post #13

k2enemy wrote: post #3

> A spokeswoman for Intuit, Tania Mercado, criticized the direct file project as a “half-baked solution” and a waste of taxpayer money. “The direct file scheme is a solution in search of a problem,” she said. Wow, I thought that Intuit would have gone for a little more subtlety.

This is why we still have the income tax system that we do. It’s a $14 billion a year industry. I’ve talked to people who work the lobbying system very hard. There’s lots of wining and dining to make sure no one messes with the complexity of the system. We need more people who are immune to lobbying in government positions. We’ll see how this goes.. depending on the next election cycle this will either get quashed qu…

Post by no_wizard » Sat, Jan 06, 2024, 7:14 PM UTC

GreedClarifies wrote: post #16

wolfgang42 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In one possible scenario included in the agency’s report to Congress, the I.R.S. could fill out tax returns with information it already has, like data from W-2 wage statements. For the pilot, however, participants will have to enter their own financial information, the I.R.S. said.

So in its initial form it is indeed a complete waste of tax payers money. Shocking.

Post by jacobyoder » Sat, Jan 06, 2024, 7:16 PM UTC

dimal wrote: post #41

GreedClarifies wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The IRS should play try to create an actual MVP. Create an API which allow for efile (which I assume already exists given turbotax) and create an API which allows the download whatever information the IRS has on the tax payer. Then allow companies or open source software to create whatever value add they want on top of these APIs. That sounds like a minimalist launch.

That does not sound like an MVP. Then it’s up to random chance that they create the right API format and then someone makes an app to use said API and doesn’t also use it to steal data from gullible people. You’ve multiplied the number of ways this can go wrong and reduced the chance that anyone would use it.