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They don’t know everything. They automatically compare your return against information they’ve received from other parties (W-2s, 1099s, other tax returns’ depe
by 1123581321 5y ago
They don’t know everything. They automatically compare your return against information they’ve received from other parties (W-2s, 1099s, other tax returns’ dependents’ social security numbers, mostly) so you will get a notification if your return contradicts those in an obvious way. Beyond that, you need to be audited to get a notice. Audits range in their degree of inspection so most people just get a letter, but those kinds of audits usually just focus on one/two easy-to-discover issues.
They certainly could develop the ability to do your return for you, but it would be an effort.
- jeltz 5y agoThey do not know everything here in Sweden either but they still give you prefilled forms with what they do know (based on what other parties like employers and banks have submitted) and then you can add the rest yourself plus add corrections if you disagree with them. Seems less work and less back and forth.
- 1123581321 5y agoMost Americans are pretty close to that level right now with autofill from their previous year. Granted, it’s provided by private companies in partnership with the IRS.