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Yes. We have to wait for forms to be mailed, or emailed, or avail. Download them or enter them in the tax website. Even though the fed already knows. Forms a

Yes. We have to wait for forms to be mailed, or emailed, or avail. Download them or enter them in the tax website. Even though the fed already knows. Forms are things like: main employment, side jobs over 600, bank interest, car/house loan and tax payments, stocks, and other things. The forms are often not ready until late feb to mid march. Mid april is the filing deadline. Mind you - the gov already has copies of ALL the forms. They just want you to f it up.

BrandoElFollito 3y ago
Ah OK. In our case the various sources of income have to provide the information to the tax authority, and this is summarized in the prefilled web form (that you approve by clicking submit). Now, it is your responsibility to make sure that all of the sources are indeed there but for normal people it is the salary only. It happened to me once that one source was missing and I was not happy at all (but said source provided me pronto with what to put where in the form). Overall I would say that our tax system is complicated (as all trax systems) but made really simple for average people. Also we do not have any companies such as yours that would provide software to make your taxes. If you want some help you can either contact a specialized finance person (this usually costs 200€ and is useful only if your case is really complicated) or you have free help areas at town halls (mairies). Or clear directions from the providers. But as I said, it is for a select population, not for the everyday Joe who just clicks three times. There was even national ads on the radio about that.
javagram 3y ago
> Mind you - the gov already has copies of ALL the forms. They just want you to f it up. Not completely accurate - you’re required to pay tax on side jobs under $600 for instance, but neither you nor the IRS get a 1099 tax form for it. Reporting it is on the honor system. Cash tips are supposed to be taxed but rely on self reporting since the IRS has no idea who handed you money, etc. There are also many deductions and credits that the IRS does not know about unless you self report and claim them.
- flandish 3y ago
  Deductions and credits: I posit, they could know based on how interlinked everything is. You have 3 kids registered in school? It’s in a db. Buy an EV? It’s in a db. But yeah- fair point. There are lots of “quiet” transactions for sure, but that’s likely no different in any other nation with better tax cycles.
  - hiatus 3y ago
    > Buy an EV? It’s in a db I don't expect car purchases to be in a federal database (or the schools my children attend, for that matter).
    - aifooh7Keew6xoo 3y ago
      then you're gonna really hate to learn about vehicle registration
      - sokoloff 3y ago
        Vehicle registration is done by state agencies. I would not expect that all the data in 50 states' (plus additional territories') databases end up reflected into a federal database today.
        flandish 3y ago
        Some of us pay state taxes too…
        sokoloff 3y ago
        Of course. The upthread comment about EVs was presumably in regards to the federal EV tax credit and how to handle the data flow needed to support it in an automated return generation process.
    - flandish 3y ago
      You don’t expect it, but it is. And all I am saying is that I’m not surprised it isn't already “part of the process.” Just because it’s not part of our filing process doesn’t mean the data and its relationships don’t exist. Heck, I’m the first to say 99% of this should not exist in the first place. (That means I think the nation state concept should not exist.. there should be none.) But be honest with yourself: you know society tacitly accepts interfaces between dbs for the corporate purpose of profit… (advertising, etc)

BrandoElFollito 3y ago

Ah OK. In our case the various sources of income have to provide the information to the tax authority, and this is summarized in the prefilled web form (that you approve by clicking submit). Now, it is your responsibility to make sure that all of the sources are indeed there but for normal people it is the salary only. It happened to me once that one source was missing and I was not happy at all (but said source provided me pronto with what to put where in the form). Overall I would say that our tax system is complicated (as all trax systems) but made really simple for average people. Also we do not have any companies such as yours that would provide software to make your taxes. If you want some help you can either contact a specialized finance person (this usually costs 200€ and is useful only if your case is really complicated) or you have free help areas at town halls (mairies). Or clear directions from the providers. But as I said, it is for a select population, not for the everyday Joe who just clicks three times. There was even national ads on the radio about that.

javagram 3y ago

> Mind you - the gov already has copies of ALL the forms. They just want you to f it up. Not completely accurate - you’re required to pay tax on side jobs under $600 for instance, but neither you nor the IRS get a 1099 tax form for it. Reporting it is on the honor system. Cash tips are supposed to be taxed but rely on self reporting since the IRS has no idea who handed you money, etc. There are also many deductions and credits that the IRS does not know about unless you self report and claim them.

flandish 3y ago
Deductions and credits: I posit, they could know based on how interlinked everything is. You have 3 kids registered in school? It’s in a db. Buy an EV? It’s in a db. But yeah- fair point. There are lots of “quiet” transactions for sure, but that’s likely no different in any other nation with better tax cycles.
- hiatus 3y ago
  > Buy an EV? It’s in a db I don't expect car purchases to be in a federal database (or the schools my children attend, for that matter).
  - aifooh7Keew6xoo 3y ago
    then you're gonna really hate to learn about vehicle registration
    - sokoloff 3y ago
      Vehicle registration is done by state agencies. I would not expect that all the data in 50 states' (plus additional territories') databases end up reflected into a federal database today.
      - flandish 3y ago
        Some of us pay state taxes too…
        sokoloff 3y ago
        Of course. The upthread comment about EVs was presumably in regards to the federal EV tax credit and how to handle the data flow needed to support it in an automated return generation process.
  - flandish 3y ago
    You don’t expect it, but it is. And all I am saying is that I’m not surprised it isn't already “part of the process.” Just because it’s not part of our filing process doesn’t mean the data and its relationships don’t exist. Heck, I’m the first to say 99% of this should not exist in the first place. (That means I think the nation state concept should not exist.. there should be none.) But be honest with yourself: you know society tacitly accepts interfaces between dbs for the corporate purpose of profit… (advertising, etc)