690
IRS plans to make its free tax filing program permanent (edition.cnn.com)
submitted 7 months ago by mozz@mbin.grits.dev to c/news@lemmy.world
49 comments fedilink hide all child comments
top 49 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] LordCrom@lemmy.world 105 points 7 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"

[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 30 points 7 months ago

GOP rule #1: oppose anything and everything that's provided at no cost to the end-user if someone somewhere can charge too much money for the same product. and no, instatwitbooksnaptok isn't included because the end-user IS the product

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

like hateful racist clockwork

[-] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 18 points 7 months ago

Texas must be soooo mad they don't have income tax so can't really do anything about it.

[-] Papergeist@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

Texas was one of the states that could participate in the trial. But it is Texas, so I'm not holding my breath that they will continue being cool with it. Fingers crossed though.

[-] chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

As a Texan, there is no state income tax here. Texas can't say shit.

[-] Jyek@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

A lot of GOP led states don't have state taxes anyways. Worst case scenario, people in said states only need taxes prepared for federal anyways.

[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

some states may refuse...

Fucking Hawaii, it's always Hawaii.

[-] Steve@communick.news 4 points 7 months ago

Wait. I thought is was a federal tax system. Does it do state taxes also? I missed that.

[-] macarthur_park@lemmy.world 15 points 7 months ago

It will do federal taxes for everyone, and can also do state taxes for people in states that opt in. Only a handful of states were included in the beta testing version this year, but they’re opening it up to any state that agrees to participate next year.

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

So about 20-27 states will refuse then

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

I want to choose to fund lobbyists working against me to make every April a little bit harder and more expensive :(

[-] Chozo@fedia.io 47 points 7 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?

[-] DrSleepless@lemmy.world 22 points 7 months ago

I used it last minute and it was easy.

[-] doctordevice@lemmy.ca 11 points 7 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.

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Great. Other free filing is acceptable. And folks will be kinda used to it from the get go.

[-] danc4498@lemmy.world 6 points 7 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 4 points 7 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 4 points 7 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 1 points 7 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 2 points 7 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 2 points 7 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

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 30 points 7 months ago

TurboTax: "But don't you love us?"

[-] Gestrid@lemmy.ca 22 points 7 months ago

IRS: "Remember, you broke up with us."

[-] Jaysyn@kbin.earth 25 points 7 months ago

This program will exist until the next #GOP administration.

[-] einlander@lemmy.world 10 points 7 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.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 24 points 7 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.

[-] UltraGiGaGigantic@lemm.ee 17 points 7 months ago

Get FUCKED turbo tax. Fuck you forever.

[-] wramble@lemmy.beagle.quest 13 points 7 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.

[-] mozz@mbin.grits.dev 4 points 7 months ago

Why would you hurt me this way

[-] AncientFutureNow@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

I'm sure scrotus will find a bullshit reason to stop this.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 6 points 7 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.

[-] GiddyGap@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago

"SoCiaLisM!!!!"

[-] ZhaoYadang@lemmy.world 3 points 7 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 3 points 7 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?!

[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago

Because taxes AREN'T only federal. There's federal taxes, state taxes and local (AKA municipal) taxes.

[-] LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world 3 points 7 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 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 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 2 points 7 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 3 points 7 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 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 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.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 7 months ago

im not saying it is automatically done but you should not need to input the data. if you do then its pants.

[-] LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world 1 points 7 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.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 7 months ago

Well this is no difference then as free fillable forms has always been an option they provided for free with no exclusions.

[-] LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world 2 points 7 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 1 points 7 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.

[-] LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

think of it as TurboTax free file made by the government and that's it lol theyre a bit more than just PDFs online. theyve specifically said they're making another option on the market alongside existing products. but they're specifically NOT undercutting other existing technology.

[-] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 1 points 7 months ago

yeah the only way I can see it being better since the irs already offered the free fillable forms is if it would autopopulate known forms like a w2 or 1099 (or is that 1098. I only know these things for like 3 months a year)

[-] KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 7 months ago

if true this is huge.

Tax actually gaming a little hard

this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2024
690 points (100.0% liked)

News

24162 readers
2508 users here now

Welcome to the News community!

Rules:

1. Be civil

Attack the argument, not the person. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Good faith argumentation only. This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban. Do not respond to rule-breaking content; report it and move on.

2. All posts should contain a source (url) that is as reliable and unbiased as possible and must only contain one link.

Obvious right or left wing sources will be removed at the mods discretion. We have an actively updated blocklist, which you can see here: https://lemmy.world/post/2246130 if you feel like any website is missing, contact the mods. Supporting links can be added in comments or posted seperately but not to the post body.

3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.

Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.

4. Post titles should be the same as the article used as source.

Posts which titles don’t match the source won’t be removed, but the autoMod will notify you, and if your title misrepresents the original article, the post will be deleted. If the site changed their headline, the bot might still contact you, just ignore it, we won’t delete your post.

5. Only recent news is allowed.

Posts must be news from the most recent 30 days.

6. All posts must be news articles.

No opinion pieces, Listicles, editorials or celebrity gossip is allowed. All posts will be judged on a case-by-case basis.

7. No duplicate posts.

If a source you used was already posted by someone else, the autoMod will leave a message. Please remove your post if the autoMod is correct. If the post that matches your post is very old, we refer you to rule 5.

8. Misinformation is prohibited.

Misinformation / propaganda is strictly prohibited. Any comment or post containing or linking to misinformation will be removed. If you feel that your post has been removed in error, credible sources must be provided.

9. No link shorteners.

The auto mod will contact you if a link shortener is detected, please delete your post if they are right.

10. Don't copy entire article in your post body

For copyright reasons, you are not allowed to copy an entire article into your post body. This is an instance wide rule, that is strictly enforced in this community.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
rjc@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world
Tenthrow@lemmy.world
JonsJava@lemmy.world
gedaliyah@lemmy.world
little_cow@lemmy.world
jeffw@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
WrenFeathers@lemmy.world