On Wed, 13 Mar 2024 02:18:46 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro
<
ldo@nz.invalid> wrote:
... is being able to file our taxes online for free. Compare the US,
where private companies have a nearly-complete stranglehold on online
tax preparation, to the point where free services that they are
required by law to offer to people get ringed around with traps to
extract money from the unwary. And the tax-preparation software
companies employ powerful lobbyists to ensure the situation never
improves.
<https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/irs-free-tax-filing-service-now-available-but-most-people-dont-qualify/>.
That is primarily because taxation in general in the USA is
extraordinarily complex. As a minimum, tax is paid at county/city,
state and federal levels. When I lived there 30-odd years ago in my congressional district, federal taxpayers could claim mortgage
interest for 1983-1987 (only) as a tax-deductible expense. One of my colleagues reported that his Federal and State tax return comprised of
43 pages in total, most of which was supporting documentation. This
is the sole reason that an industry evolved around tax return
preparation for individuals.
We do not have anywhere near such complexities - long may that
continue
--
Crash McBash
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