3 ms·

I'm not sure you actually agree with Intuit. They're saying that the IRS and state-level agencies should not provide free online filing services--even though th

I'm not sure you actually agree with Intuit. They're saying that the IRS and state-level agencies should not provide free online filing services--even though they already provide free paper filing systems. As far as I've seen, no one has done a movement to ban tax paperers (either online or in person). If Intuit or H&R Block can provide a better website for $39 or whatever, they can. The question is if the agencies in question shouldn't develop their own replacements to paper tax forms. Can you imagine it was 30 years ago and if, instead of getting tax forms mailed to you every year (or photocopies from the local library for a pittance 5 years ago), you had to walk down to the local H&R Block or other private company and pay them $40 to get the forms they wrote based on the tax code to file your taxes? It's pretty much the same thing.

ams6110 12y ago
From a pragmatic standpoint, the forms already exist. They have to be updated, but the changes from year to year are not huge. Governments have a lot of experience creating forms. We don't hear about massive budget overruns and failed government projects creating forms. We do hear this about almost every software project they undertake. Nothing the government does is free, and implemnenting online filing services would be something they (and by that I mean we) would pay billions of dollars for, and it would be poorly implemented, insecure, and it would crash constantly from overload during the month of April and especially on April 15th. I'd rather let Intuit do it for 1/1000 of the cost, and even at that, a cost that I would only pay voluntarily.
- Retric 12y ago
  Several states already offer a high quality, secure, stable, and fast online filing so your clearly mistaken.
- vidarh 12y ago
  If Intuit can do it for 1/1000th of the cost, they could bid for the contracts at extortionate markups to cover their lost future revenue and still likely win them. Especially given that they apparently know the lobbying game quite well.

ams6110 12y ago

From a pragmatic standpoint, the forms already exist. They have to be updated, but the changes from year to year are not huge. Governments have a lot of experience creating forms. We don't hear about massive budget overruns and failed government projects creating forms. We do hear this about almost every software project they undertake. Nothing the government does is free, and implemnenting online filing services would be something they (and by that I mean we) would pay billions of dollars for, and it would be poorly implemented, insecure, and it would crash constantly from overload during the month of April and especially on April 15th. I'd rather let Intuit do it for 1/1000 of the cost, and even at that, a cost that I would only pay voluntarily.

Retric 12y ago
Several states already offer a high quality, secure, stable, and fast online filing so your clearly mistaken.
vidarh 12y ago
If Intuit can do it for 1/1000th of the cost, they could bid for the contracts at extortionate markups to cover their lost future revenue and still likely win them. Especially given that they apparently know the lobbying game quite well.