4 ms·

This discussion feels incomplete without mentioning "return-free filing". A lot of countries you don't even need to send a return because the government already

• godelski 6y ago
  The fact that this isn't in the conversation has always surprised me. Both Regan and Obama supported it. The Republicans did that whole "taxes on a postcard" skit, but we don't even need a postcard. We're talking about TurboTax, well how many of you also log in and all the information is already there? I don't see why we can't replace the 1040 with return free filing, or at least the 1040Ez
  • pfranz 6y ago
    Grover Norquist has had Republicans sign "the Pledge" opposing tax increase since 1986. Reportedly, he also wants filing taxes to be painful so you hate the government and he opposes these measures. In 2005, California had a pilot program called ReadyReturn where they mailed you prefilled forms. It was popular. TurboTax lobbied against it and it died.
    • refurb 6y ago
      California Democrats are in the pocket of TurboTax? Really?
• adwww 6y ago
  Yeah as a Brit the whole discussion above about "nobody could replace TT because it's so complex" missed the point by a country mile.
• alkonaut 6y ago
  I do mortage deductions etc. and I filed my taxes some years back by responding to a text message. "If this looks right and you don't want to change anything, just reply YES and you are done for this year", basically. In recent years it's just a smartphone app or website. Typically you cclick "next" 3 times to review and then submit. It's around as simple as your average online retail experience.