4 ms·

In Australia, like in Europe and most countries, when you log in to do your taxes, your forms are pre-filled with everything the government already has on recor

In Australia, like in Europe and most countries, when you log in to do your taxes, your forms are pre-filled with everything the government already has on record for you. You can add to it or modify it as you see fit, but the vast majority of people just accept the default values and they're done. Most people spend more time finding their login info than verifying their taxes. With the amount people complain about the US system, it doesn't sound like they are doing the same thing.

ac29 7y ago
That's definitely better than what we have in the US, but the majority of people in the US don't need more than the standard form 1040 [0], which isn't too hard to fill out. Tax software vendors and accountants want people to believe its more complicated than it really is, when in reality most people only have a single source of income, and maybe a child tax credit and mortgage interest credit. For these people, doing taxes "by hand" shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes. [0] https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf
- Symbiote 7y ago
  That form isn't long, but would be less intimidating if it were spread out over 3-4 pages, with larger fonts and no abbreviations. Compare a UK tax form (not for the usual, simple case; I don't know if there is a form for that): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/787629/SA100_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/... (Although as it says, 92% of people fill in this form online. I can't look, as it requires a login, but it should be a good UX going by the other forms on the gov.uk site.)
  - stordoff 7y ago
    > not for the usual, simple case; I don't know if there is a form for that Most people don't require a tax return. They are on PAYE[1], which just happens (you don't have to think about it or actively do anything). _Generally_ speaking, you only need a tax return if you are self-employed as a 'sole trader', or are a partner in a business partnership, or have untaxed income such as money from renting out a property, tips and commission (over £2,500), income from savings, investments and dividends (over £10,000), or foreign income. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-as-you-earn_tax#United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-as-you-earn_tax#United_Kin...

ac29 7y ago

That's definitely better than what we have in the US, but the majority of people in the US don't need more than the standard form 1040 [0], which isn't too hard to fill out. Tax software vendors and accountants want people to believe its more complicated than it really is, when in reality most people only have a single source of income, and maybe a child tax credit and mortgage interest credit. For these people, doing taxes "by hand" shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes. [0] https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf

Symbiote 7y ago
That form isn't long, but would be less intimidating if it were spread out over 3-4 pages, with larger fonts and no abbreviations. Compare a UK tax form (not for the usual, simple case; I don't know if there is a form for that): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/787629/SA100_2019.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/... (Although as it says, 92% of people fill in this form online. I can't look, as it requires a login, but it should be a good UX going by the other forms on the gov.uk site.)
- stordoff 7y ago
  > not for the usual, simple case; I don't know if there is a form for that Most people don't require a tax return. They are on PAYE[1], which just happens (you don't have to think about it or actively do anything). _Generally_ speaking, you only need a tax return if you are self-employed as a 'sole trader', or are a partner in a business partnership, or have untaxed income such as money from renting out a property, tips and commission (over £2,500), income from savings, investments and dividends (over £10,000), or foreign income. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-as-you-earn_tax#United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay-as-you-earn_tax#United_Kin...