4 ms·

One low hanging fruit is that it can file their taxes. Boom, that'll save a few hours and like $100 a person. After that, it's just a matter of your creativity.

Quekid5 9d ago
We have a marvelous thing in developed countries where the IRS (equivalent) already knows how much your tax should be paying[0] and you basically have to just look at a few numbers and click "That seems right". They even have a form where you can change things that aren't correct! Marvelous, I know... we've had that for 15+ years in Denmark. EDIT: To add, if you get it slightly wrong... you're fine, it'll be adjusted for in next year's taxes. [0] ...because it has to, in order to investigate evasion.
- scottyah 9d ago
  You're just one step away from all the money just going straight to the government, then they decide how much goes back to you ;)
  - Quekid5 8d ago
    I'm not sure I get your point. Can you elaborate?
opan 9d ago
Tax filing in the US being so deeply intertwined with proprietary software is extremely unfortunate. I actually emailed Richard Stallman the first time I had to file to see what he does. He basically recommended grabbing the forms as PDFs, using xournalpp to edit/sign them, then print and mail them the old-fashioned way. I did do this but I found the process clunky and upsetting. I would kill to have some official government thing that's free software and covers all the common cases, or to have it automated like in other countries. I simply should not have to do this myself, it's ridiculous. I don't care about a tax refund either, just don't make me do this at all. Maybe leave the process optional for those who want to try to game the system and get some money back. I don't see AI as a solution here as it's all rather murky and proprietary.
- scottyah 9d ago
  It's not proprietary, they (tax companies) just want you to think that. It is very murky though, but you can fill out and file the proper forms yourself if you know what you're doing. Apparently, even the models last filing season did a great job. My uncle has been an accountant and done a lot of the family's taxes for decades. He did a parallel comparison and the llm did it perfectly. The models have improved since then as well. Of course, if you're (imo rightly) concerned with your data, you'll have to run them locally.

Quekid5 9d ago

We have a marvelous thing in developed countries where the IRS (equivalent) already knows how much your tax should be paying[0] and you basically have to just look at a few numbers and click "That seems right". They even have a form where you can change things that aren't correct! Marvelous, I know... we've had that for 15+ years in Denmark. EDIT: To add, if you get it slightly wrong... you're fine, it'll be adjusted for in next year's taxes. [0] ...because it has to, in order to investigate evasion.

scottyah 9d ago
You're just one step away from all the money just going straight to the government, then they decide how much goes back to you ;)
- Quekid5 8d ago
  I'm not sure I get your point. Can you elaborate?

opan 9d ago

Tax filing in the US being so deeply intertwined with proprietary software is extremely unfortunate. I actually emailed Richard Stallman the first time I had to file to see what he does. He basically recommended grabbing the forms as PDFs, using xournalpp to edit/sign them, then print and mail them the old-fashioned way. I did do this but I found the process clunky and upsetting. I would kill to have some official government thing that's free software and covers all the common cases, or to have it automated like in other countries. I simply should not have to do this myself, it's ridiculous. I don't care about a tax refund either, just don't make me do this at all. Maybe leave the process optional for those who want to try to game the system and get some money back. I don't see AI as a solution here as it's all rather murky and proprietary.

scottyah 9d ago
It's not proprietary, they (tax companies) just want you to think that. It is very murky though, but you can fill out and file the proper forms yourself if you know what you're doing. Apparently, even the models last filing season did a great job. My uncle has been an accountant and done a lot of the family's taxes for decades. He did a parallel comparison and the llm did it perfectly. The models have improved since then as well. Of course, if you're (imo rightly) concerned with your data, you'll have to run them locally.