5 ms·

> 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

> 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...

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...