2 ms·

> Is the system in the US much more complicated to require software purchases? It's intensely more complicated. My 2022 Federal tax filing was over 50 pages.

> Is the system in the US much more complicated to require software purchases? It's intensely more complicated. My 2022 Federal tax filing was over 50 pages. I gave up trying to do it myself with TurboTax about 10 years ago and that was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I can sleep well at night knowing that as long as I provided the necessary information to my accountant, all the right forms will have all the right stuff on them. IMO, nobody but the most trivial W-2 only taxpayer should be doing it themselves. The state filing in my state is much simpler because it mostly piggybacks off the information in the Federal return and doesn't require dozens and dozens of additional forms.

ghaff 3y ago
And I'm guessing you taxes would be fairly complicated in many/most countries in the world and wouldn't be handled by clicking a "Yep, looks about right" button. I'm in the same boat and I don't even think my situation is especially complex. I can also ask my accountant questions in advance for tax planning purposes. On the other hand, a lot of people do just have a W2, maybe a 1099, and take the standard deduction.
pclmulqdq 3y ago
I'm pretty sure your tax forms in France would also be 50 pages, and you would have to submit a detailed correction of the government forms if you wanted to actually minimize your tax burden. That has more to do with the complexity of your income and assets than anything else. My tax forms in 2021 were about 300 pages if you combine everything (including 1099s, W-2s, and other reporting forms), but that has to do entirely with stock trades, real estate, and small business profits, all of which would be a pain in any tax system. The simplest taxes in the US are 2 pages of forms (the 1040) plus a few W-2s. The average American can easily fill out their tax papers by hand. TurboTax just sells the dream of finding "hidden" deductions and credits, which basically don't apply to 99% of people.

ghaff 3y ago

And I'm guessing you taxes would be fairly complicated in many/most countries in the world and wouldn't be handled by clicking a "Yep, looks about right" button. I'm in the same boat and I don't even think my situation is especially complex. I can also ask my accountant questions in advance for tax planning purposes. On the other hand, a lot of people do just have a W2, maybe a 1099, and take the standard deduction.

pclmulqdq 3y ago

I'm pretty sure your tax forms in France would also be 50 pages, and you would have to submit a detailed correction of the government forms if you wanted to actually minimize your tax burden. That has more to do with the complexity of your income and assets than anything else. My tax forms in 2021 were about 300 pages if you combine everything (including 1099s, W-2s, and other reporting forms), but that has to do entirely with stock trades, real estate, and small business profits, all of which would be a pain in any tax system. The simplest taxes in the US are 2 pages of forms (the 1040) plus a few W-2s. The average American can easily fill out their tax papers by hand. TurboTax just sells the dream of finding "hidden" deductions and credits, which basically don't apply to 99% of people.