5 ms·

This is really cool, and I'd like to encourage work like this. I currently don't think I can recommend this to others because: It isn't immediately obvious who

This is really cool, and I'd like to encourage work like this. I currently don't think I can recommend this to others because: It isn't immediately obvious who is running the site. whois info lists a Canadian privacy company. The site doesn't have an about page. Github has contributor info, which may help. Tax returns need to be private and accurate. If it's hard to verify that the authors are even in the US, it's had to know if this is a scam. I think the project is still young, and the above is likely something addressable. Partnering with some accountants may be a way to fund further development/maintenance through referrals. Good luck!

sunnyam 6y ago
It looks very easy to just build this from source, which is what privacy-concerned users would do anyway
- orblivion 6y ago
  Heh, I'll probably build from source, and then run in a VM (via QubesOS) without Internet access.
  - osrec 6y ago
    Won't you need internet access to submit your taxes?
    - orblivion 6y ago
      I didn't look into how it works yet, but you're likely right. Does the IRS have an open API like that? I was assuming it generated pdfs or something.
      - pc86 6y ago
        E-File is a thing but I'm not sure how open the API is. This app specifically just generates a PDF.
        smilebot 6y ago
        From their website: You need to be an authorized e-file provider (1). I'm guessing that if you're approved, you'll get access to their API. And you'll show up in their list (2) 1: https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/become-an-authorized-e-file-provider https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/become-an-authorized-e-... 2: https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options
- shanecleveland 6y ago
  Not all who are privacy concerned are build-from-source savvy.
- freewilly1040 6y ago
  That sounds like more trouble than just learning how to file your taxes?
  - lowpro 6y ago
    Building from source is probably easier for a non-tech user than filing taxes that are anything more than a basic W-2.
aidangrimshaw 6y ago
That whois information is interesting, I registered the domain through google domains. The Canadian company is probably being used by google for whoisguard reasons? The site runs client side only, with no external API calls, so assuming you trust the code in the repo is the code being served to you then no data can leave your computer. If you're curious you could probably verify by clicking around on the site and checking the network calls made to ensure there's no external API calls

sunnyam 6y ago

It looks very easy to just build this from source, which is what privacy-concerned users would do anyway

orblivion 6y ago
Heh, I'll probably build from source, and then run in a VM (via QubesOS) without Internet access.
- osrec 6y ago
  Won't you need internet access to submit your taxes?
  - orblivion 6y ago
    I didn't look into how it works yet, but you're likely right. Does the IRS have an open API like that? I was assuming it generated pdfs or something.
    - pc86 6y ago
      E-File is a thing but I'm not sure how open the API is. This app specifically just generates a PDF.
      - smilebot 6y ago
        From their website: You need to be an authorized e-file provider (1). I'm guessing that if you're approved, you'll get access to their API. And you'll show up in their list (2) 1: https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/become-an-authorized-e-file-provider https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/become-an-authorized-e-... 2: https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options https://www.irs.gov/filing/e-file-options
shanecleveland 6y ago
Not all who are privacy concerned are build-from-source savvy.
freewilly1040 6y ago
That sounds like more trouble than just learning how to file your taxes?
- lowpro 6y ago
  Building from source is probably easier for a non-tech user than filing taxes that are anything more than a basic W-2.

aidangrimshaw 6y ago

That whois information is interesting, I registered the domain through google domains. The Canadian company is probably being used by google for whoisguard reasons? The site runs client side only, with no external API calls, so assuming you trust the code in the repo is the code being served to you then no data can leave your computer. If you're curious you could probably verify by clicking around on the site and checking the network calls made to ensure there's no external API calls