Congress to Ban IRS From Offering Free Online Tax Filing

mean dad

Well-known member
Once again we're being sold to the highest fucking bidder. Both Republicans and Democrats are voting for this so (hopefully) we can dispense with the political bullshit and focus on calling everyone an asshole.

Budman, I'm not sure if this is actually political or not since it's more of an issue about taxes...feel free to move it if you think it needs to be in the PF.



Just in time for Tax Day, the for-profit tax preparation industry is about to realize one of its long-sought goals. Congressional Democrats and Republicans are moving to permanently bar the IRS from creating a free electronic tax filing system.

Just in time for Tax Day, the for-profit tax preparation industry is about to realize one of its long-sought goals. Congressional Democrats and Republicans are moving to permanently bar the IRS from creating a free electronic tax filing system.

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee, led by Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., passed the Taxpayer First Act, a wide-ranging bill making several administrative changes to the IRS that is sponsored by Reps. John Lewis, D-Ga., and Mike Kelly, R-Pa.

In one of its provisions, the bill makes it illegal for the IRS to create its own online system of tax filing. Companies like Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, and H&R Block have lobbied for years to block the IRS from creating such a system. If the tax agency created its own program, which would be similar to programs other developed countries have, it would threaten the industry’s profits.

“This could be a disaster. It could be the final nail in the coffin of the idea of the IRS ever being able to create its own program,” said Mandi Matlock, a tax attorney who does work for the National Consumer Law Center.
 

KrustyKruser

El Chingon
I love the bait and switch titles that are used for all these bullshit bills. "Taxpayer first" and "internet neutratitly" which are both shown to be anything but what the titles imply.
 

Lorry

Well-known member
H&R Block & Intuit have also lobbied against bills to simplify the tax code.
 

stangmx13

not Stan
TurboTax is free for people with a simple return. so I don't see a problem when it comes to filing taxes. im now beyond a simple return with a bunch of 1099s, a home, and other deductions, so I will gladly pay for some guidance.

aside from that... didn't u hear? money is free speech and corporations are people. I don't blame the lobbies, I blame the law.
 

ScarySpikes

tastes like burning
I love the bait and switch titles that are used for all these bullshit bills. "Taxpayer first" and "internet neutratitly" which are both shown to be anything but what the titles imply.

Internet Neutrality is the good version of the internet actually, it's the one with Title 2 regulation of the internet as a utility, which is good. 'Open Internet' is the jargon term for letting the ISPs fuck over customers and act like the mafia towards businesses with large online presence.
 

easter bunny

Amateur Hour
TurboTax is free for people with a simple return.
For now. The point of "free" is to get you into their software for the hard upsell. A bunch of expenses used to be included on the free edition because they were on the 1040. Now they moved to Schedule 1 which forces you to pay for the premium version.

im now beyond a simple return with a bunch of 1099s, a home, and other deductions
Not necessarily. 1099s and a house could still have had you on an EZ form depending on your specifics.
 

Butch

poseur
Staff member
Please everyone be cool and not turn this into political rant.

This is really important shit. And yeah, hard for average folks to understand. I think some special interest groups have made this stuff complicated and confusing.

Taxes, filing, it could all be streamlined, saving a buttload of money for the gubmt.

Yeah, collateral damage is an issue.

The future will be interesting. I hope younger folks grab the reins.
 

CABilly

Splitter
You know how Facebook saves EVERYTHING you do? Like, photos and comments you start typing but never post? I don’t want the IRS doing the same thing while I figure out my taxes so I wouldn’t use their product anyway.
 

Mike95060

Work In Progress
You know how Facebook saves EVERYTHING you do? Like, photos and comments you start typing but never post? I don’t want the IRS doing the same thing while I figure out my taxes so I wouldn’t use their product anyway.

They already have all your pertinent financial info. They use it if and when they audit you.
 

CABilly

Splitter
They already have all your pertinent financial info. They use it if and when they audit you.

I also have no faith they’d be as eager to maximize refunds as the private companies are. They have a vested interest in maximizing THEIR cut, whereas TurboTax and the rest of the free market are competing to please paying and hopefully repeat customers.
 
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