I have long considered it one of the few benefits of being poor - doing taxes has long been free when you make very little, and is very simple when you only have one source of income. I retired a year and a half ago, so 2023 was my first year retired. No W-2, just a stack of 1099's... and I still made little enough that I could do it free. it took very little time, and the software used was clear and simple. This should be a free option for *everyone* who just has a job or several. (Not certain it should be an option for those who tie their money up in ways to disguise it - the Traders and schemers and ones who 'don't take out a salary, but get stock options'. They should be audited regularly. But workers shuld not have to pay extra to be citizens.
As a volunteer of IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, I got to see a lot of tax returns done by "professional" tax preparers when tax payers brought in their prior year returns for reference when filing current year returns. Some of those "professionally" prepared were grossly sloppy: claiming dependents that didn't qualify; entering same number for stock sale price & purchase price because the preparer couldn't be bothered to calculate the cost basis. 90% of the prior year returns that I saw were very simple. The VITA program requires every prepared return be reviewed by 2nd volunteer (all volunteers must be certified); even with those requirements, we usually complete a typical return in ~30 min. How long does it take to churn out a return at one of the big name tax preparation companies, at their excessive fees, with no quality control? What a rip off.
The taxpayers whom we help typically have simple returns. VITA volunteers are trained to prepare schedules A, B, C, D, education credit, earned income credit. Return preparation + quality assurance review usually take less than 1 hour.
Thank you for sharing that information. I had to do this year's weird replacement for Home & Business not because I had business income but because I had investment transactions, likely the last year I'll be able to afford that. My prep for this year will be pretty much a simple 1040S. Are there VITA volunteers all over the country? It sounds like you folks perform a really good service and is it free?
I've been supporting this idea of the IRS doing most people's taxes and even the more complex ones. They should send prefilled tax forms that we could review and apply any updates when appropriate before the official filing. This would increase the number of people who would not have to spend the difficult time working on their taxes.
Not exactly in favor of this. I like doing my own taxes using the free Federal form options . My State charges and I don't know why. If the Fed is free, the State should be also.
I've been doing my taxes for years using laptop software after my accountant said I'd be able to do my multiple complex taxes for myself and my family members.
But I still believe that for most, the country's tax system would be better managed by each taxpayer just reviewing the taxes completed by the IRS and their local state. This likely would result in lower cost to taxpayers, more accurate filings, and reduce the need for tax accountants and tax lawyers.
It really is time for some pampered organisations to bring their thinking 💭 into the 21 st century. Adapt to change or die. The current use of technology on ALL levels did not jump out of the darkness suddenly. We have been aware of this for a long time. What have they done to adapt and grow? Sit back and rely on the government's protection. The real 'socialism' in #America.
I agree with your concern about relying on technology but in this case the benefit is to the taxpayer while the tax authorities have to work harder to pull together the information they have and assemble it for the taxpayer. If the use of this technology is moving us toward socialism, I do not see it's harm to the individual.
The rise of technology in our society with social media, internet, AI learning computers, and robotics I believe is something we should be concerned about but I don't think it's socialism. To better understand what's concerning, I recommend you read Colossus and/or see "Colossus, The Forbin Project", this film can be found on archive.org.
Dear Katie(!), Congratulations on your run for a Senate seat. There is a life thereafter, isn't there? Just a reminder 🕯️ to update your 'page'. It hasn't gotten the memo 📝. Thank you for your passion for and dedication to the cause of improving the lives 🧬 of people everywhere. 💕
I have used TurboTax since it first came out and its one of the greatest programs for doing your taxes and is very inexpensive. I do not want a government-controlled program that may be free but cost millions to have developed and will probably be full of bugs. Anything the government controls turn out to be a bad idea. There is no such thing as something for free and the minimal cost to buy TurboTax and also get your state taxes done at a minimal cost is an excellent solution. All companies lobby the government so why single out TurboTax. There are much bigger fish to fry.
ALso the IRS does not have all my tax information so I do not want them to help me with my taxes.
Why go after a company that has a great product that works well. So they make money and have lobbyists. Lots of other companies do the same thing. For me its just the government wants more and more control of everything. GO fix the real problems we have in the country right now.
I think of government as a referee. People will cheat if given an opportunity. Milton Freidman the economist said “ the markets will take care of themselves”. In 1999 we got rid of the Glass Steigel act that prevented investment banks from using savings bank money for more investments. 2007 we had the banking crisis and credit default swaps scandal.
People lost their homes and went bankrupt. But thank God for saving the banks so their executives still got their bonuses and never lost money. We taxpayers bailed them out!!!!!
We lost the power of government to referee shady bank deals!
Intuit gets public subsidies to provide free tax preparation to qualifying taxpayers. Intuit is doubly cheating the public by (1) scamming the taxpayers who use their software into paying when they qualify to file for free (2) taking public money to provide zilch public benefit.
I would have loved to be able to use Direct File, but because I'm a bargain shopper/saver for 30 years I earn interest on the savings I invested, so wasn't eligible, I don't understand why there was a limit on interest, that is reported and taxed, because no additional forms are required. The Federal filing I did was addressed within a week, Thank you Biden Administration for a great job, my State return took 3 weeks for comparison.
I tried to use the pilot IRS direct version but unique circumstances had me back at TurboTax. The autoload from previous years is much appreciated. What I remember paying for TurbotTax over the years was under $75 plus little more to file state taxes. This time it was glitchy and the cheapest I could go refraining from the multiple sales pushes was $180! What I did experience from the IRS direct was that it was very easy to follow. I'm hoping to use them in the future! But still, our tax code needs to be dramatically simplified.
We need you in government.
Other countries they know what you made and they send you a bill or check. Our corrupt system puts us all in pain so a few bozos can avoid paying.
Appreciate all you continue to accomplish on behalf of the public Katie.
Thank you Ms Porter. You are brilliant and invaluable . May you keep up your work for many years to come. Be well and enjoy it all.
I have long considered it one of the few benefits of being poor - doing taxes has long been free when you make very little, and is very simple when you only have one source of income. I retired a year and a half ago, so 2023 was my first year retired. No W-2, just a stack of 1099's... and I still made little enough that I could do it free. it took very little time, and the software used was clear and simple. This should be a free option for *everyone* who just has a job or several. (Not certain it should be an option for those who tie their money up in ways to disguise it - the Traders and schemers and ones who 'don't take out a salary, but get stock options'. They should be audited regularly. But workers shuld not have to pay extra to be citizens.
As a volunteer of IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, I got to see a lot of tax returns done by "professional" tax preparers when tax payers brought in their prior year returns for reference when filing current year returns. Some of those "professionally" prepared were grossly sloppy: claiming dependents that didn't qualify; entering same number for stock sale price & purchase price because the preparer couldn't be bothered to calculate the cost basis. 90% of the prior year returns that I saw were very simple. The VITA program requires every prepared return be reviewed by 2nd volunteer (all volunteers must be certified); even with those requirements, we usually complete a typical return in ~30 min. How long does it take to churn out a return at one of the big name tax preparation companies, at their excessive fees, with no quality control? What a rip off.
How long does it take? All day with TurboTax.
The taxpayers whom we help typically have simple returns. VITA volunteers are trained to prepare schedules A, B, C, D, education credit, earned income credit. Return preparation + quality assurance review usually take less than 1 hour.
Thank you for sharing that information. I had to do this year's weird replacement for Home & Business not because I had business income but because I had investment transactions, likely the last year I'll be able to afford that. My prep for this year will be pretty much a simple 1040S. Are there VITA volunteers all over the country? It sounds like you folks perform a really good service and is it free?
I've been supporting this idea of the IRS doing most people's taxes and even the more complex ones. They should send prefilled tax forms that we could review and apply any updates when appropriate before the official filing. This would increase the number of people who would not have to spend the difficult time working on their taxes.
Not exactly in favor of this. I like doing my own taxes using the free Federal form options . My State charges and I don't know why. If the Fed is free, the State should be also.
I've been doing my taxes for years using laptop software after my accountant said I'd be able to do my multiple complex taxes for myself and my family members.
But I still believe that for most, the country's tax system would be better managed by each taxpayer just reviewing the taxes completed by the IRS and their local state. This likely would result in lower cost to taxpayers, more accurate filings, and reduce the need for tax accountants and tax lawyers.
It really is time for some pampered organisations to bring their thinking 💭 into the 21 st century. Adapt to change or die. The current use of technology on ALL levels did not jump out of the darkness suddenly. We have been aware of this for a long time. What have they done to adapt and grow? Sit back and rely on the government's protection. The real 'socialism' in #America.
I agree with your concern about relying on technology but in this case the benefit is to the taxpayer while the tax authorities have to work harder to pull together the information they have and assemble it for the taxpayer. If the use of this technology is moving us toward socialism, I do not see it's harm to the individual.
The rise of technology in our society with social media, internet, AI learning computers, and robotics I believe is something we should be concerned about but I don't think it's socialism. To better understand what's concerning, I recommend you read Colossus and/or see "Colossus, The Forbin Project", this film can be found on archive.org.
Dear Katie(!), Congratulations on your run for a Senate seat. There is a life thereafter, isn't there? Just a reminder 🕯️ to update your 'page'. It hasn't gotten the memo 📝. Thank you for your passion for and dedication to the cause of improving the lives 🧬 of people everywhere. 💕
Thanks for the link to the free IRS pilot site and fighting the good battle.
I have used TurboTax since it first came out and its one of the greatest programs for doing your taxes and is very inexpensive. I do not want a government-controlled program that may be free but cost millions to have developed and will probably be full of bugs. Anything the government controls turn out to be a bad idea. There is no such thing as something for free and the minimal cost to buy TurboTax and also get your state taxes done at a minimal cost is an excellent solution. All companies lobby the government so why single out TurboTax. There are much bigger fish to fry.
ALso the IRS does not have all my tax information so I do not want them to help me with my taxes.
I used a free program last year and it eas simple and reliable. Actually was less complicated than Turbotax.
TurboTax gets singled out because they have a 70% market share and spend the most on lobbying.
Why go after a company that has a great product that works well. So they make money and have lobbyists. Lots of other companies do the same thing. For me its just the government wants more and more control of everything. GO fix the real problems we have in the country right now.
I think of government as a referee. People will cheat if given an opportunity. Milton Freidman the economist said “ the markets will take care of themselves”. In 1999 we got rid of the Glass Steigel act that prevented investment banks from using savings bank money for more investments. 2007 we had the banking crisis and credit default swaps scandal.
People lost their homes and went bankrupt. But thank God for saving the banks so their executives still got their bonuses and never lost money. We taxpayers bailed them out!!!!!
We lost the power of government to referee shady bank deals!
So no government????
Intuit gets public subsidies to provide free tax preparation to qualifying taxpayers. Intuit is doubly cheating the public by (1) scamming the taxpayers who use their software into paying when they qualify to file for free (2) taking public money to provide zilch public benefit.
It is fashionable to complain about “Government”. What would life be like without any government at all?
BOOOOOOOOO😠
Katie, keep up the good work that you are doing!!
I would have loved to be able to use Direct File, but because I'm a bargain shopper/saver for 30 years I earn interest on the savings I invested, so wasn't eligible, I don't understand why there was a limit on interest, that is reported and taxed, because no additional forms are required. The Federal filing I did was addressed within a week, Thank you Biden Administration for a great job, my State return took 3 weeks for comparison.
I trust your findings and appreciate what you have proposed. Thank you.
We need more people like Katie fighting for the average American!
Now do one about its “deletion.“
Please come back to Congress!
I tried to use the pilot IRS direct version but unique circumstances had me back at TurboTax. The autoload from previous years is much appreciated. What I remember paying for TurbotTax over the years was under $75 plus little more to file state taxes. This time it was glitchy and the cheapest I could go refraining from the multiple sales pushes was $180! What I did experience from the IRS direct was that it was very easy to follow. I'm hoping to use them in the future! But still, our tax code needs to be dramatically simplified.