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Why does the average American have to file taxes? You know my W2 you know my family members. Just send out the withhold amount to my employer.
by whatever1 3y ago
Why does the average American have to file taxes? You know my W2 you know my family members. Just send out the withhold amount to my employer.
- nemo44x 3y agoWell, you could have done a variety of things that aren't reported. For instance, donating money/time/goods, winning from gambling/etc, inheriting money/property, winning things/money, face deprecation in assets like real estate, etc. Payroll and taxes have about a million edge cases and it's one of the reasons payroll is such a bloated industry. I agree it's probably a bit much for most people though and not filing should be akin to not reporting anything else and the IRS should automatically calculate your return and mail a check or a bill if you owe.
- sys_64738 3y agoThere are too many additions to the tax code beyond that. Really, if they cut away 95% of the cruft then it could be dramatically simplified. Everybody has their thing they hold onto for dear life in a tax code.
- bluGill 3y agoMost of the cruft has been cut out (as of 1986!) People are just so used to accountants and tax programs that they never look at the details to realize how simple their tax situation really is. This is encouraged by the tax industry.
- camdenlock 3y agoPsychological warfare. A direct and personal reminder of our place.
- bluGill 3y ago85% of Americans should only have to return the postcard "this is what we think your situation is". The other 15% have something the government doesn't know and needs to file. The other 10% should have an accountant do their taxes and not software (which leaves a few% lost, not quite complex enough for an accountant, but not enough of them to support software for their situation).