• LordCrom@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    108
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    4 months ago

    Article says some states may refuse to participate. Well since it’s a program that helps people and provides a free option instead of using a corporate tax preparer, then I assume all GOP states will hate it and call it liberal socialism somehow. Betcha we hear the same argument we get with healthcare … " The libs want to force you to use this and take away your ability to choose"

  • Chozo@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    47
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    4 months ago

    I was pressed for time when filing this year, so I didn’t want to experiment with the IRS’ new program and just went with FreeTaxUSA since I knew it would be fast and have my data from last year saved. For those who tried the new program this year, how was it?

    • doctordevice@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      4 months ago

      I itemized for the first time this year so I couldn’t use it, but I did fill it out completely as a comparison point to make sure itemizing was worth it. It was pretty painless, not very different from free filing through various other companies.

    • danc4498@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      I got halfway through it and one of the forms I needed to use was not supported, so I basically wasted my time testing it out. I don’t remember the form, but I felt like it was a basic thing.

      I went with FreeTaxUSA as I always do and it was good as always.

      I think having to fill out tax forms instead of the government just telling you what you owe is pretty insane and this IRS program does nothing to resolve the actual issue.

      • all4one@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 months ago

        That was my issue too. I think it was something with retirement like it didn’t support either 401k or IRA contributions.

        I jumped back to freetaxusa since I’ve been using them for years.

    • LucidNightmare@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      They require you to use a third party, ID.me, to even sign in to use it.

      Fuck that.

      Without that, I would love to use it.

      • handontel@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 months ago

        So you’re completing and filing your taxes by mail, I guess? Or using a different third party, like H&R Block?

        • LucidNightmare@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          4 months ago

          The problem is that the actual government is the one requiring me to use a third party company, that is not part of the government, for me to give them information so that the government can verify who I am.

          I use FreeTaxUSA, and never had to do ID.me.

          It’s an arbitrary requirement, that is stupid in the sense that the GOVERNMENT knows everything about me so WHY should I need to use a COMPANY’S bullshit to verify that?

    • Ssolos@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      Tbh worked quite well for me only rough part is I messed up some math at the start so I had to start again

    • einlander@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      ·
      4 months ago

      Why wait until then? There are plenty of non existent people affected by this that the GOP can help bring to court so the Supreme Justices Mullahs can strike it down.

  • Optional@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    24
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    4 months ago

    Interestingly this is all part of a trump-administration effort to help consumers file taxes without having to pay $100 or whatever to tax filing software companies.

    Ahhhhh almost had you with that huh? Almost? no? Yeah okay fair enough. It was a stretch.

  • wramble@lemmy.beagle.quest
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    Supreme Court rules that the IRS is not an expert enough in tax law to create a system to assist with filing your taxes until Congress passes a law stating that it is legal for the IRS to provide a product assist with your taxes.

  • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    4 months ago

    More importantly they said to expand it to all states. They say only folks with simple tax returns but honestly I think if all your tax stuff is in forms that are mailed out then they should do it.

  • ZhaoYadang@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    Well, now that Chevron is dead, this ain’t happening unless every 23-year-old Trump district judge in Alaska agrees.

  • entropicshart@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    4 months ago

    After a successful pilot, we are making Direct File permanent and inviting all 50 states to offer this free filing option to their residents,

    Taxes are federal - unless the state wants to pay for the cost of my choice of person to file them, why the fuck do they even get a voice in this?!

  • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    9
    ·
    4 months ago

    unpopular opinion, but, as someone who can afford it, I like TurboTax as a product. hate Intuit as a company for all their bs lobbying, but I like having TurboTax as an option. I have like a dozen accounts across multiple banks and turbotax gets me done with my taxes in like 30 or less every year for cheaper than my old accountant did when I used one.

    • PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      edit-2
      4 months ago

      I’d say then that’s great! It’s just that the majority of people have one source of income and should be able to file for free.

      • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        4 months ago

        yeah I agree. that’s why I included that the perspective was as somebody who can afford it and that I still hate what Intuit does. But at the same time saying I like the product instead of the TurboTax sucks circlejerking that the Internet loves doing.

    • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      4 months ago

      Don’t see why the irs version would not do that. Its just a gathering of forms that all go to you and the irs so they already have them.

      • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        4 months ago

        because they said they wouldn’t. the direct file program said they’re placing themselves as an option besides ones already on the market and will NOT replace any existing technology already on the market. so you still need to manually file with them. it’s not the situation where they already have the documents so you don’t have to do anything.

        Edit:

        The IRS tool is meant to be an additional option people have to file their tax returns and will not replace any existing options for filing, said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel on a call with reporters Wednesday.

          • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 months ago

            you will still need to manually input your information from the forms you receive. it just files your taxes for you. it doesn’t do them for you.

              • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                ·
                4 months ago

                well the difference is that the government won’t go oops you traded a stock, so you need to use premium for $120 and also shove sales and dark patterns in your face to trick you into buying premium. most others that were free usually charged to file state taxes or something or another too. definitely a win for the average joe, but it’s not the process that people are imagining. the IRS has pretty directly said that they are providing another option to people and not making other services obsolete.

                • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  4 months ago

                  free fillable forms has always been free. its just online pdfs for the physical forms and the irs has been offering them for awhile. I have not used a physical in awhile. My point was if they can’t pull the forms with the data its not really more useful than the current free fillable forms option.

      • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        8
        ·
        edit-2
        4 months ago

        Yeah, the feds need that money so they can spy on American citizens, oppress minorities, murder innocents halfway across the world and bomb their homes “help people”

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          Fun fact: the existence of atrocity factories like CIA and the US military doesn’t mean that benevolent public agencies, institutions, and social programs don’t exist.

          Just like you being against murdering innocents abroad and also against paying your fair share to help protect them domestically, the US government contains both good and evil parts.

          Unlike you, though, millions of people would not be able to survive without the good that government does.

          • the_crotch@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            8
            ·
            4 months ago

            Fun fact: the existence of atrocity factories like CIA and the US military doesn’t mean that benevolent public agencies, institutions, and social programs don’t exist.

            Strong “Mussolini made the trains run on time” energy going on here

            also against paying your fair share to help protect them domestically

            Do you feel protected? I don’t.

      • shortwavesurfer@monero.town
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        15
        ·
        4 months ago

        Oh, I’m most definitely am. I’m using my brain and my knowledge to help teach others to fight the system and defund the IRS and defund the government and burn it all to the ground.

        • Gork@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          4 months ago

          Why though? I like public infrastructure. I don’t want toll roads everywhere I go.

          • shortwavesurfer@monero.town
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            10
            ·
            4 months ago

            Let the states handle it. If the states don’t handle it well and have bad infrastructure, then you are free to leave. Before a state that has better infrastructure. I’d like to see a world where states compete to get new people to move there and have incentive programs for people who wish to leave other states.

            • SuiXi3D@fedia.io
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              8
              ·
              4 months ago

              you are free to leave

              This isn’t true in the slightest. I’d love to leave Texas right now, but I in no way can afford to do so.

              • shortwavesurfer@monero.town
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                7
                ·
                4 months ago

                I would support community fundraisers to help people get out of situations that are bad for them. So for example, LGBTQ people who live in LGBTQ friendly places could raise money to support others who are currently living in Texas and need to move away.

                • DrWeevilJammer@lemmy.ml
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  7
                  ·
                  4 months ago

                  So the libertarian solution to eliminate taxes is essentially GoFundMe, where the burden of support for those in need falls only on those who possess both empathy and the financial means to engage in philanthropy?

        • mozz@mbin.grits.devOP
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          4 months ago

          There are places in the world with no government. Africa has lots of them; that’s probably the best place to travel to if you want a much more immediate and easy and possible-in-the-first-place path to get there than the total non starter idea of destroying the US government. Central and South America have some too, in selected places, but it’s less complete or widespread than it is in Africa. You could literally be living your dream in like a few weeks from now.

          Actually I think there are also some crypto based attempts at doing something like that (like floating ships or islands or something), and they’d carry a lot of benefit in terms of the people speaking English and being supportive of your worldview and all, but they have worked even worse than the land-based places with no government, if you can believe it.

          If you just meant you want the nice things about the US and its government, without either the destructive things that it does alongside or the obligations that have to happen in order for it to exist and do those nice things, me too! It’d be great. Maybe when you go to Africa you can get to work on making that system. Let me know when you get done and in the meantime I’ll be here with my clean water and highways and taxes garbage collection and anti-bear-attraction regulations and military and all.