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>but isn't the big issue here that a private company has been able to successfully lobby to get laws changed to make it illegal for tax filing to be free? Why

>but isn't the big issue here that a private company has been able to successfully lobby to get laws changed to make it illegal for tax filing to be free? Why would it be a 'big issue'? There is no human right to super easy tax filing. Interest groups, whether they be corps, or unions or activists, will lobby to get laws they like passed. Par for course whether you're in United States or Britain.

GordonS 8y ago
> Why would it be a 'big issue'? Let me flip that around - why wouldn't it be? Surely corporations shouldn't have the power to change laws to let them squeeze citizens for every cent? Surely laws should be there for the benefit of the populace? > lobby to get laws they like passed. Par for course whether you're in United States or Britain Lobbying is indeed a thing in the UK, but not remotely to the degree it is in the US. And on this specific issue, there isn't even a remote possibility that the UK would legislate against free tax filing, regardless of ludicrous lobbying (and I say this as someone with a very low opinion of UK politics).
- macspoofing 8y ago
  >Let me flip that around - why wouldn't it be? Because it isn't a big deal. >Surely corporations shouldn't have the power to change laws to let them squeeze citizens for every cent? They don't have the power to change laws. Congress makes laws. Corporations certainly have a right to lobby government, just like unions, just like citizens, just like activists, just like non-profits. >Lobbying is indeed a thing in the UK, but not remotely to the degree it is in the US I'm not sure what standard you use to make this assertion. >And on this specific issue, there isn't even a remote possibility that the UK would legislate against free tax filing What are you talking about? You can file for free in United States. That's not at issue. People are complaining that IRS doesn't send a simpler pre-filled tax form. They are also complaining that TurboTax and H&R block does not advertise free filing options [1]. [1] 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...

GordonS 8y ago

> Why would it be a 'big issue'? Let me flip that around - why wouldn't it be? Surely corporations shouldn't have the power to change laws to let them squeeze citizens for every cent? Surely laws should be there for the benefit of the populace? > lobby to get laws they like passed. Par for course whether you're in United States or Britain Lobbying is indeed a thing in the UK, but not remotely to the degree it is in the US. And on this specific issue, there isn't even a remote possibility that the UK would legislate against free tax filing, regardless of ludicrous lobbying (and I say this as someone with a very low opinion of UK politics).

macspoofing 8y ago
>Let me flip that around - why wouldn't it be? Because it isn't a big deal. >Surely corporations shouldn't have the power to change laws to let them squeeze citizens for every cent? They don't have the power to change laws. Congress makes laws. Corporations certainly have a right to lobby government, just like unions, just like citizens, just like activists, just like non-profits. >Lobbying is indeed a thing in the UK, but not remotely to the degree it is in the US I'm not sure what standard you use to make this assertion. >And on this specific issue, there isn't even a remote possibility that the UK would legislate against free tax filing What are you talking about? You can file for free in United States. That's not at issue. People are complaining that IRS doesn't send a simpler pre-filled tax form. They are also complaining that TurboTax and H&R block does not advertise free filing options [1]. [1] 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...