A Bi-Partisan F-U

[dismal]

I'm all for simplifying the tax code to the point where taxes can be done automatically and effortlessly. I am willing to congratulate those European countries that have made their tax codes that simple.

These things do not change the reality that our tax code is not that simple now.

No, the thing that supports making our tax code that simple now is allowing government to fire shots over (or into) the bow of tax preparation companies thus breaking their power and allowing the simplification of our tax code.

Oh, OK. Good point. Now all we lack is an explanation of why US taxes were about as complicated before there was tax preparation software.

 

[Jarhyn]

I'm all for simplifying the tax code to the point where taxes can be done automatically and effortlessly. I am willing to congratulate those European countries that have made their tax codes that simple.

These things do not change the reality that our tax code is not that simple now.

No, the thing that supports making our tax code that simple now is allowing government to fire shots over (or into) the bow of tax preparation companies thus breaking their power and allowing the simplification of our tax code.

Oh, OK. Good point. Now all we lack is an explanation of why US taxes were about as complicated before there was tax preparation software.

Because before there was software there were tax accountancy firms, and before that, there was corporate manipulation of the tax code to minimize their tax burden.

But in reality, it doesn't much matter why it happened (tax preparers), it just matters that the solution is the same: allow a government tax solution, and then simplify the tax code so that taxes are automatic.

 

[dismal]

Oh, OK. Good point. Now all we lack is an explanation of why US taxes were about as complicated before there was tax preparation software.

Because before there was software there were tax accountancy firms, and before that, there was corporate manipulation of the tax code to minimize their tax burden.

But in reality, it doesn't much matter why it happened (tax preparers), it just matters that the solution is the same: allow a government tax solution, and then simplify the tax code so that taxes are automatic.

Have you actually ever done your taxes in the United stares? These bizarre emotional rants don’t create the impression you have.

 

[lpetrich]

Congress Kills Free Tax Software Ban That TurboTax Loved

How about a bit of good news? It looks like the controversial provision in the Taxpayer First Act that would have prevented the Internal Revenue Service from directly competing with filing services offered through the Free File Program will no longer be part of the bill.

The provision in question aimed to make permanent the government’s deal with tax filing services like H&R Block and TurboTax through the Free File Program, which should, though it evidently doesn’t, make filing through major tax services free and accessible to American taxpayers who make less than $66,000. But Politico reported Wednesday that a revised version of the Taxpayer First Act sans the provision would be introduced this week and passed as soon as next week. ProPublica reported Thursday that it confirmed the news with an unidentified House Republican staffer.

This "Free File Program" is rather gross false advertising. It is very limited, and its pages are sometimes buried deep inside tax-filing companies' sites. It's something out of George Orwell's best-known works.

• Animal Farm: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
• 1984: Memory hole - document destruction
• 1984: Ministry of Love - the secret police
• 1984: Ministry of Peace - the armed forces
• 1984: Ministry of Plenty - rationing
• 1984: Ministry of Truth - official propaganda

 Animal Farm,  Nineteen Eighty-Four,  Memory hole  Ministries of Nineteen Eighty-Four