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Jim__

(14,045 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 02:55 PM Mar 2013

How the maker of TurboTax fought free, simple tax filing

Imagine the government filling out your return for you and then letting you just amend that return. Intuit and Grover Norquist both oppose this simple, optional system. As I'm sitting here, getting ready to do my taxes, this sounds like a desireable option.

From NBCNews:

Imagine filing your income taxes in five minutes — and for free. You'd open up a pre-filled return, see what the government thinks you owe, make any needed changes and be done. The miserable annual IRS shuffle, gone.

It's already a reality in Denmark, Sweden and Spain. The government-prepared return would estimate your taxes using information your employer and bank already send it. Advocates say tens of millions of taxpayers could use such a system each year, saving them a collective $2 billion and 225 million hours in prep costs and time, according to one estimate.

...

Well, for one thing, it doesn't help that it's been opposed for years by the company behind the most popular consumer tax software — Intuit, maker of TurboTax. Conservative tax activist Grover Norquist and an influential computer industry group also have fought return-free filing.

Intuit has spent about $11.5 million on federal lobbying in the past five years — more than Apple or Amazon. Although the lobbying spans a range of issues, Intuit's disclosures pointedly note that the company "opposes IRS government tax preparation."

more ...


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How the maker of TurboTax fought free, simple tax filing (Original Post) Jim__ Mar 2013 OP
greed ---> Greed -----> GREED!!!! liberal N proud Mar 2013 #1
I was just now talking to my barber about this. El Supremo Mar 2013 #2
I was forced to use the online 'free' version of TurboTax the other day sinkingfeeling Mar 2013 #3
E-file Sucks StrayKat Mar 2013 #4
happens more often than you think... Blue_Tires Mar 2013 #5
Grover Norquist sucks. shenmue Mar 2013 #6

liberal N proud

(60,298 posts)
1. greed ---> Greed -----> GREED!!!!
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:06 PM
Mar 2013

This has to be the greediest land on the planet. Nothing for something is all these bastards can think about; how to squeeze every penny from those who already are hit hard by high prices and low wages.



El Supremo

(20,365 posts)
2. I was just now talking to my barber about this.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:47 PM
Mar 2013

I had to spend $51 on Turbo Tax this year. I used to do it all by hand.

I wonder how much H&R Block has spent?

sinkingfeeling

(51,274 posts)
3. I was forced to use the online 'free' version of TurboTax the other day
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:38 PM
Mar 2013

filing a friend's return. It really sucked compared to TaxAct and H&R Block.

StrayKat

(570 posts)
4. E-file Sucks
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 05:22 PM
Mar 2013

- especially if you are in a bracket that forces you to use unsupported third party software or go to professional tax preparer.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
5. happens more often than you think...
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:05 PM
Mar 2013

In the late 90s when e-commerce was getting off the ground, automakers were working on a groundbreaking system where you could order and your new car online for the sticker price + destination...No two weeks of bullshit back-and-forth hassling at the dealer, no mysterious extra add-on costs...You could take care of everything online and at your local bank, and you would just show up at the dealership to accept delivery...

As you guessed, the NADA used political pressure to kill this plan in its infancy, and hope no one ever remembered it even existed...

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