Intuit's argument generally is that if the government was allowed to create their own online filing system then that would create an imbalance of incentives, si

Intuit's argument generally is that if the government was allowed to create their own online filing system then that would create an imbalance of incentives, since the incentive of the people setting up the tax form would be to try to screw people into paying more if possible. Keeping it to a pure private market of tax preparation companies ensures that companies compete to make their returns as favorable to you as possible, thereby counterbalancing the IRS. I still think the lack of easy government-provided online tax systems is insane, but that's how the other side justifies itself.