A government provided portal?! Surely this is a case of government over-reach: directly competing with hard working private-sector businesses (tax accountants, tax software makers), destroying jobs and stifling innovation? It would never be allowed in freedom-loving America!
/s
Because you can go out and buy one of the programs that are on the market. There is a public interface/api that can be used by the companies to file your taxes. We even have startups doing your taxes with a questionaire on your phone.
But the government provides you with a free, basic version, the same they did with the standard forms. There is little help, a bit of explanation but nothing more.
And since you have to hand it in digitally now, they are also providing the means to do so. Paper, but digital.