The title of this post is a bit misleading. This law wouldn't ban free online tax filing completely, it would just ban the IRS from developing their own free online tax filing application. It's...
The title of this post is a bit misleading. This law wouldn't ban free online tax filing completely, it would just ban the IRS from developing their own free online tax filing application. It's still incredibly scummy since it would ensure TurboTax, H&R, et al are free from competition (similar to incumbent ISPs lobbying to get municipal ISPs banned), but it doesn't eliminate free filing outright.
To elaborate: this program – the one that banned IRS from developing a competing tax-filing software – used to require renewing every N years. The bill passed makes the non-compete permanent.
To elaborate: this program – the one that banned IRS from developing a competing tax-filing software – used to require renewing every N years. The bill passed makes the non-compete permanent.
very simple: lobbying by the tax-preparation agency and capitalist dipshits wanting to lock in a source of revenue. there's really no actual rationale for it beyond people wanting to continue to...
Exemplary
very simple: lobbying by the tax-preparation agency and capitalist dipshits wanting to lock in a source of revenue. there's really no actual rationale for it beyond people wanting to continue to make money doing shit that should neither cost money nor be complicated, but which they intentionally seek to make cost money and be complicated to create a problem and then sell the solution back to you.
Some perspective from New Zealand: our IRD is doing automatic tax refunds this year for most people. This should benefit mostly the low/minimum wage earners since they're the ones mostly to...
Some perspective from New Zealand: our IRD is doing automatic tax refunds this year for most people. This should benefit mostly the low/minimum wage earners since they're the ones mostly to receive a refund but are less likely to file for a refund.
The title of this post is a bit misleading. This law wouldn't ban free online tax filing completely, it would just ban the IRS from developing their own free online tax filing application. It's still incredibly scummy since it would ensure TurboTax, H&R, et al are free from competition (similar to incumbent ISPs lobbying to get municipal ISPs banned), but it doesn't eliminate free filing outright.
To elaborate: this program – the one that banned IRS from developing a competing tax-filing software – used to require renewing every N years. The bill passed makes the non-compete permanent.
@Deimos, any chance you could update the title to reflect this?
Done, thanks for the ping.
What exactly is the rationale behind this one?
very simple: lobbying by the tax-preparation agency and capitalist dipshits wanting to lock in a source of revenue. there's really no actual rationale for it beyond people wanting to continue to make money doing shit that should neither cost money nor be complicated, but which they intentionally seek to make cost money and be complicated to create a problem and then sell the solution back to you.
Republicans I understand, but why the hell are Democrats supporting this? Hopefully it doesn't get enough votes in the House.
Some perspective from New Zealand: our IRD is doing automatic tax refunds this year for most people. This should benefit mostly the low/minimum wage earners since they're the ones mostly to receive a refund but are less likely to file for a refund.