6 ms·

Not to beat a dead horse, but not-so-shockingly a certain enormous software firm that happens to tax prep software was opposed to simplification too: * http://

by valgaze 11y ago

Not to beat a dead horse, but not-so-shockingly a certain enormous software firm that happens to tax prep software was opposed to simplification too: * http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/26/4150900/intuit-lobbies-against-returns-free-tax-filing-system http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/26/4150900/intuit-lobbies-aga... * http://theweek.com/articles/466220/why-turbotax-tried-make-taxes-more-complicated http://theweek.com/articles/466220/why-turbotax-tried-make-t... * https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-maker-of-turbotax-fought-free-simple-tax-filing https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-maker-of-turbotax...

semi-extrinsic 11y ago
This is a tangential issue (consumer vs corporate tax), but the US tax system is beyond ridiculous. In the socialist democracy where I live, doing my taxes is literally a no-op. It just fixes itself (with a possibility for me to submit correct numbers if the govt. calculated ones are wrong.)
- cmurf 11y ago
  If you think U.S. personal taxes are ridiculous (and they are), consider small business taxes. The Schedule C drags in all kinds of craziness, many worksheets don't even get filed but you have to do them to get the number on the form right. And then 1120S? That was the form I gave up on and hired a CPA.
  - Pluizer 11y ago
    I need S-expressions to parse question 8 on that form.
- robbiep 11y ago
  Agreed - why they don't use a PAYG/PAYE system is crazy.
rglullis 11y ago
Living in Germany now, I think things in the US are actually better than here. All years I lived in the US I paid less than $50 and was done with the thing in a couple of hours. In Germany, not only the tax code is complicated, you MUST go through a Steuerberater. There are some associations that can help you if you don't have any property and have a contract job (angestellt). And it still costs more in time and money than just buying TurboTax. It's incredible to think that Brazil has managed, despite all of the backwards mentality when dealing with bureaucracy, actually manages to be the best example I can give of dealing with taxes: the Brazilian IRS provides a free Java-based tool that is reasonably easy to use.
- Kliment 11y ago
  I live in Germany and operate a company without a tax advisor, and it's a massive pain but I have my reasons for doing it this way and it is indeed possible. I do both my personal and company taxes myself, and spend extremely little on it. Email me if you want to compare notes.
- kuschku 11y ago
  I know no one in Germany who goes to a Steuerberater — everyone just uses the Tax software from ZDF WISO.
  - allendoerfer 11y ago
    As soon as you have a mildly successful business, it makes no sense to do the taxes yourself, especially in Germany, but I guess, this is true in every country.
    - kuschku 11y ago
      Well, that’s a very different case, I didn’t notice you were talking about businesses. There, indeed, Steuerberater are very common. But yeah, that’s probably the case in most countries, as companies are a lot more complex – just the whole case with funneling your money through, say, the UK and the Netherlands to reduce taxes.
- 11y ago

by valgaze 11y ago

semi-extrinsic 11y ago

This is a tangential issue (consumer vs corporate tax), but the US tax system is beyond ridiculous. In the socialist democracy where I live, doing my taxes is literally a no-op. It just fixes itself (with a possibility for me to submit correct numbers if the govt. calculated ones are wrong.)

cmurf 11y ago
If you think U.S. personal taxes are ridiculous (and they are), consider small business taxes. The Schedule C drags in all kinds of craziness, many worksheets don't even get filed but you have to do them to get the number on the form right. And then 1120S? That was the form I gave up on and hired a CPA.
- Pluizer 11y ago
  I need S-expressions to parse question 8 on that form.
robbiep 11y ago
Agreed - why they don't use a PAYG/PAYE system is crazy.

rglullis 11y ago

Living in Germany now, I think things in the US are actually better than here. All years I lived in the US I paid less than $50 and was done with the thing in a couple of hours. In Germany, not only the tax code is complicated, you MUST go through a Steuerberater. There are some associations that can help you if you don't have any property and have a contract job (angestellt). And it still costs more in time and money than just buying TurboTax. It's incredible to think that Brazil has managed, despite all of the backwards mentality when dealing with bureaucracy, actually manages to be the best example I can give of dealing with taxes: the Brazilian IRS provides a free Java-based tool that is reasonably easy to use.

Kliment 11y ago
I live in Germany and operate a company without a tax advisor, and it's a massive pain but I have my reasons for doing it this way and it is indeed possible. I do both my personal and company taxes myself, and spend extremely little on it. Email me if you want to compare notes.
kuschku 11y ago
I know no one in Germany who goes to a Steuerberater — everyone just uses the Tax software from ZDF WISO.
- allendoerfer 11y ago
  As soon as you have a mildly successful business, it makes no sense to do the taxes yourself, especially in Germany, but I guess, this is true in every country.
  - kuschku 11y ago
    Well, that’s a very different case, I didn’t notice you were talking about businesses. There, indeed, Steuerberater are very common. But yeah, that’s probably the case in most countries, as companies are a lot more complex – just the whole case with funneling your money through, say, the UK and the Netherlands to reduce taxes.
11y ago