4 ms·

Definitely. I don't mind paying taxes (for the most part) because their purpose makes sense in a lot of cases, but I hate doing taxes. A single W2 salary is so

Definitely. I don't mind paying taxes (for the most part) because their purpose makes sense in a lot of cases, but I hate doing taxes. A single W2 salary is so much simpler. Taxes are automatically deducted and I don't have to think about much. Luckily, I do have a stable residential address that any mail can be sent to, and it is in the same state as my employer, but I am essentially a digital nomad. Able to work anywhere with an internet connection - even from my phone's hotspot if I want. Occasionally I camp out for a week and work in the woods. Or pick up and drive to another town for a while. It's not a bad setup. Feels like I have the best of both worlds. If the logistics were more complicated I probably wouldn't bother with being as nomadic.

seniorThrowaway 5y ago
> but I hate doing taxes Same here. I find it especially ridiculous because the IRS generally has all the information already for the majority of US taxpayers, W2's and 1099's from employers, financial institutions, casinos, etc. They should be able to send people a proposed return with a refund or amount owed and if you review and agree you simply sign and collect or pay. All this redundant data entry is a huge waste of time. I've heard people say the tax preparation industry lobbies against this but don't know if that is true or not.
- nemosaltat 5y ago
  >they should be able to send people a proposed refund or amount owed It is my understanding that in most European counties, this is exactly how it works.
  - tharkun__ 5y ago
    At least in Germany there are so many ways to get deductions that you really want "do your taxes". Even as a regular employee. Especially while I was employed at a consulting company. Even as a regular employee you can claim part of your commute (IIRC you could claim the distance from your home to work). Then as a contractor (though I was not self employed but a regular employee of the consulting company) I could claim the entire thing IIRC meaning both traveling to and from work and even better, if going between clients in a single day that can be claimed. You could only claim the 'shortest path' unless you could prove 'significant time savings' by taking a longer route. The deduction was based on the distance driven. Also a daily amount for food was claimable for example but even as a contractor only for IIRC up to 3 months. And there's more like this and probably stuff I wasn't even aware of and left on the table.
- ghaff 5y ago
  While I don't disagree, for anyone whose taxes really are just a W-2 and a few 1099s, no changes in residency, dependents, etc., filling out their taxes is pretty straightforward.
- atatatat 5y ago
  Obligatory: this is Intuit's fault (turbo tax, mint).
- lastofthemojito 5y ago
  > I've heard people say the tax preparation industry lobbies against this but don't know if that is true or not. It's true and it's infuriating. https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-f...
ghaff 5y ago
Which probably means that technically you're probably supposed to be filing a bunch of state tax forms. I was just posting elsewhere: https://www.concur.com/newsroom/article/what-are-state-tax-implications-for-traveling-employees https://www.concur.com/newsroom/article/what-are-state-tax-i... Basically, companies are apparently starting to more closely track employee travel and state filing requirements. Not sure the exact impetus other than a lot more remote work happening--although this pre-dates COVID.

seniorThrowaway 5y ago

> but I hate doing taxes Same here. I find it especially ridiculous because the IRS generally has all the information already for the majority of US taxpayers, W2's and 1099's from employers, financial institutions, casinos, etc. They should be able to send people a proposed return with a refund or amount owed and if you review and agree you simply sign and collect or pay. All this redundant data entry is a huge waste of time. I've heard people say the tax preparation industry lobbies against this but don't know if that is true or not.

nemosaltat 5y ago
>they should be able to send people a proposed refund or amount owed It is my understanding that in most European counties, this is exactly how it works.
- tharkun__ 5y ago
  At least in Germany there are so many ways to get deductions that you really want "do your taxes". Even as a regular employee. Especially while I was employed at a consulting company. Even as a regular employee you can claim part of your commute (IIRC you could claim the distance from your home to work). Then as a contractor (though I was not self employed but a regular employee of the consulting company) I could claim the entire thing IIRC meaning both traveling to and from work and even better, if going between clients in a single day that can be claimed. You could only claim the 'shortest path' unless you could prove 'significant time savings' by taking a longer route. The deduction was based on the distance driven. Also a daily amount for food was claimable for example but even as a contractor only for IIRC up to 3 months. And there's more like this and probably stuff I wasn't even aware of and left on the table.
ghaff 5y ago
While I don't disagree, for anyone whose taxes really are just a W-2 and a few 1099s, no changes in residency, dependents, etc., filling out their taxes is pretty straightforward.
atatatat 5y ago
Obligatory: this is Intuit's fault (turbo tax, mint).
lastofthemojito 5y ago
> I've heard people say the tax preparation industry lobbies against this but don't know if that is true or not. It's true and it's infuriating. https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-f...

ghaff 5y ago

Which probably means that technically you're probably supposed to be filing a bunch of state tax forms. I was just posting elsewhere: https://www.concur.com/newsroom/article/what-are-state-tax-implications-for-traveling-employees https://www.concur.com/newsroom/article/what-are-state-tax-i... Basically, companies are apparently starting to more closely track employee travel and state filing requirements. Not sure the exact impetus other than a lot more remote work happening--although this pre-dates COVID.