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Anecdata: I have a very complicated return due to self employment while overseas, and it takes 3 solid days.

Of course, most of the compliance burden is on tax professionals working for business.

I think we're probably losing 3 to 6 new software features every year due to the administrative burden on you alone. We all lose out when the labor of any of us is destroyed needlessly.

I'm self-employed, but in a relatively simple situation as such things go (single-member LLC), and, aside from my mortgage, no non-trivial assets or investments. It still takes me a solid day and a half to put together my return, and a few additional hours over the next 1-2 days sorting out fine points/details.

401k takes no time on your taxes. The amount you've contributed is already reflected in your (lower) taxable income on your W-2.