4 ms·

As someone who lives outside of the US, can someone please explain how the US government has not implemented its own free tax filing system? In my home country

As someone who lives outside of the US, can someone please explain how the US government has not implemented its own free tax filing system? In my home country this hasn't been a thing for over 10 years.

ska 7y ago
Short story: lobbying.
- username223 7y ago
  Slightly longer story: bribes (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8076/693/400/price-sheet-of-corruption.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8076/693/400/price-sheet-...) Basically, our representatives can choose their voters via redistricting (gerrymandering). Senators can't do that, but elections are advertising wars, and the one with the most money often wins, and therefore repays his/her donors. I'm not saying people should give up on democracy, but it needs some help from human beings instead of TurboTax.
Broken_Hippo 7y ago
Politics and lobbying have had its way, and there aren't enough elected officials that have backbone enough to stand up to them. I'm pretty sure they entice folks with the promise of hiring folks and "benefits" for the officials - in other places, this stuff might look like corruption. It definitely isn't in the interest of the voters or the government, since I'm of the understanding that easy taxes means more compliance and thus, more income.
fimbulvetr 7y ago
If you print out the forms and fill them out by hand, the only cost is the the envelope & stamp to mail them in. What the US Federal Government/IRS doesn't have is a free way to e-file taxes online.
- stagger87 7y ago
  Yes they do, you can fill out all the forms digitally online for free. Search "freefile fillable forms". They have already closed for the year. I've been doing it for a few years now. The nicest thing about it is it does most of the math for you and you get your refund really fast (usually 1 day for me).
- astura 7y ago
  The IRS has Free File Fillable Forms to e-file taxes online directly for free. https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-f...

ska 7y ago

Short story: lobbying.

username223 7y ago
Slightly longer story: bribes (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8076/693/400/price-sheet-of-corruption.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8076/693/400/price-sheet-...) Basically, our representatives can choose their voters via redistricting (gerrymandering). Senators can't do that, but elections are advertising wars, and the one with the most money often wins, and therefore repays his/her donors. I'm not saying people should give up on democracy, but it needs some help from human beings instead of TurboTax.

Broken_Hippo 7y ago

Politics and lobbying have had its way, and there aren't enough elected officials that have backbone enough to stand up to them. I'm pretty sure they entice folks with the promise of hiring folks and "benefits" for the officials - in other places, this stuff might look like corruption. It definitely isn't in the interest of the voters or the government, since I'm of the understanding that easy taxes means more compliance and thus, more income.

fimbulvetr 7y ago

If you print out the forms and fill them out by hand, the only cost is the the envelope & stamp to mail them in. What the US Federal Government/IRS doesn't have is a free way to e-file taxes online.

stagger87 7y ago
Yes they do, you can fill out all the forms digitally online for free. Search "freefile fillable forms". They have already closed for the year. I've been doing it for a few years now. The nicest thing about it is it does most of the math for you and you get your refund really fast (usually 1 day for me).
astura 7y ago
The IRS has Free File Fillable Forms to e-file taxes online directly for free. https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-f...