7 ms·

Considering they basically do this for the simplest tax forms: why are we supposed to assume Spain has a better system again? Is this just the typical “Europea

Considering they basically do this for the simplest tax forms: why are we supposed to assume Spain has a better system again? Is this just the typical “European = better” stance so prevalent online?

sofixa 4y ago
> Is this just the typical “European = better” stance so prevalent online? Yes and is often the case, fully justified. When it's the time to file taxes, you go to a government website that tells you all it knows about you - inheritances, donations, salaries, etc etc. You can add stuff if you want (e.g. special deductions), but for most people it's a matter of next next OK Finished. On a government website everyone knows (that send you a letter/email to remind you it's time), for free, and works for everyone regardless of complexity. Contrast that with the US where tou have to provide all the information yourself, but first you have to find filing software that you sometimes have to pay for (either because of your situation or because you were tricked by dark patterns). It's honestly weird. Nobody likes taxes, that's why they should be as easy as possible to file and pay. The American model of adding middlemen for their benefit is going directly against that for no good reason.
- andsoitis 4y ago
  While tax filing in the US might be more Byzantine, I’m happy with the trade off of paying lower taxes, relative to most countries with such streamlined taxes. Put differently, if I’m paying very high tax rates, of course I’ll be doubly pissed off if it is also arduous to file.
  - sofixa 4y ago
    The tax rates are comparable between the US and many EU countries, all things included. Yes, your sales tax is much lower than the usual 20% (for some things, often lower for essentials) VAT; your income tax might be lower in some cases, but when most people in the EU talk about "taxes" and "tax rates", healthcare plan costs are included in that, as well as pensions. When Americans talk about "taxes" and "tax rates", your premiums, deductibles and etc. aren't, and it's up to each individual to save money for retirement. According to some online sources the median tax rate is comparable between the the US and the OECD median for Europe. And you also have non-insignificant property taxes.
  - baby 4y ago
    You’re one of the people happy with no universal healthcare as well I bet
  - azinman2 4y ago
    Except that’s not “the trade off.” As been discussed many a time on HN, companies like Intuit lobby the government to keep it full of friction.
baby 4y ago
I mean, Europe is indeed better for so many things, maybe you should travel a little?

sofixa 4y ago

> Is this just the typical “European = better” stance so prevalent online? Yes and is often the case, fully justified. When it's the time to file taxes, you go to a government website that tells you all it knows about you - inheritances, donations, salaries, etc etc. You can add stuff if you want (e.g. special deductions), but for most people it's a matter of next next OK Finished. On a government website everyone knows (that send you a letter/email to remind you it's time), for free, and works for everyone regardless of complexity. Contrast that with the US where tou have to provide all the information yourself, but first you have to find filing software that you sometimes have to pay for (either because of your situation or because you were tricked by dark patterns). It's honestly weird. Nobody likes taxes, that's why they should be as easy as possible to file and pay. The American model of adding middlemen for their benefit is going directly against that for no good reason.

andsoitis 4y ago
While tax filing in the US might be more Byzantine, I’m happy with the trade off of paying lower taxes, relative to most countries with such streamlined taxes. Put differently, if I’m paying very high tax rates, of course I’ll be doubly pissed off if it is also arduous to file.
- sofixa 4y ago
  The tax rates are comparable between the US and many EU countries, all things included. Yes, your sales tax is much lower than the usual 20% (for some things, often lower for essentials) VAT; your income tax might be lower in some cases, but when most people in the EU talk about "taxes" and "tax rates", healthcare plan costs are included in that, as well as pensions. When Americans talk about "taxes" and "tax rates", your premiums, deductibles and etc. aren't, and it's up to each individual to save money for retirement. According to some online sources the median tax rate is comparable between the the US and the OECD median for Europe. And you also have non-insignificant property taxes.
- baby 4y ago
  You’re one of the people happy with no universal healthcare as well I bet
- azinman2 4y ago
  Except that’s not “the trade off.” As been discussed many a time on HN, companies like Intuit lobby the government to keep it full of friction.

baby 4y ago

I mean, Europe is indeed better for so many things, maybe you should travel a little?