This comment is on the right track, but is inadequate. It invites the typical response that it "can't be done," because X, Y, Z. The truth is closer to yes.

This comment is on the right track, but is inadequate. It invites the typical response that it "can't be done," because X, Y, Z. The truth is closer to yes. Yes, there could be (and is in civilized countries) a web based form that lists everything the government expects to apply this year. And it could be quite accurate. Then you spend fifteen minutes (typically) entering in your deductions or any missing data. Does the math. Reduces the manual process from a week to under an hour. (I understand that third-party software does reduce that time as well, but shouldn't need to exist.) So yes, it can be done, because I've done it when I had a contract in another country.