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They've even done a pilot program that literally did what you wanted. [1] And yes, it was much better experience: > Almost all participants said that they woul
by creakingstairs 5y ago
They've even done a pilot program that literally did what you wanted. [1] And yes, it was much better experience:
> Almost all participants said that they would opt to use the service the following year.
And yes, as you have said, the answer is lobbying.
> Tax preparation services strongly opposed ReadyReturn and have lobbied against its expansion.
[1] https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-was-experience-return-free-filing-california#:~:text=California%20operated%20a%20pilot%20program,only%20were%20invited%20to%20participate https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-was-exper....
EDIT: I can't find the podcast I heard this in, but pretty sure the tax professor that spearheaded this pilot got followed by people hired by Intuit.
- exolymph 5y agoThe podcast might have been Planet Money: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/03/22/521132960/episode-760-tax-hero https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/03/22/521132960/epis... Priceonomics wrote an accompanying article: https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-the-tax-lobby/ https://priceonomics.com/the-stanford-professor-who-fought-t...
- creakingstairs 5y agoThank you, it was! The accompany article is really good, but it is also really depressing to read too :(
- Griffinsauce 5y ago> EDIT: I can't find the podcast I heard this in, but pretty sure the tax professor that spearheaded this pilot got followed by people hired by Intuit. This feels somehow like it should be illegal to willfully and knowingly make the common good worse in favor of your company. Perhaps via antitrust.
- dotancohen 5y agoIntuit argues that they are working _for_ the common good, not against.
- kevincox 5y agoAnd once the politicians receive enough donations they believe them!