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Comment by coderintherye | Hacker News Reader

Is the WSJ Editorial Board also on the payroll of Intuit? Cause this terrible opinion piece seriously tries to make the argument that having an automatically computed tax bill and free e-file is a "bad idea".

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I think the point the WSJ is trying to make is this: Today you tell the IRS how much you think you owe them and then pay that much. And it's incumbent on the IRS to figure out if you're wrong and prove that to you in the appropriate venue.

With automatic filing, the IRS will tell you how much you owe. And it becomes incumbent on you to prove them wrong. Under this model, taxes will calcify for poorer cohorts of filers who lack the means to contest a possibly unfair tax bill.

Personally I feel we need free filing. But I don't want the IRS doing my taxes for me each year and sending me the bill.

Personally, I trust the IRS more than I trust Intuit. There is no evidence you wouldn’t be able to contest an inaccurate automated return provided to you.

https://www.propublica.org/series/the-turbotax-trap

https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-f...

https://www.propublica.org/article/turbotax-maker-intuit-wil...

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/cases-proceedings/1...

https://hn.algolia.com/?q=propublica+intuit

I hate being obligated to file tax returns every year. Why are we all obligated to do extra accounting and legal research work every year just to settle a tax bill? It’d make more sense to only file a return if you disagree with whatever amount the irs withheld, like an appeal, but otherwise it should just be optional.

Yes, I'm with you 100%.

But maybe the thinking is then the rich's tax loophole people's ploy would be too obvious?

If I worked for Intuit and had no soul I'd definitely be cultivating those relationships to manipulate perception in a favorable direction to the maximum, to ensure the cash cow can be milked as much and as long as possible.

An automatically computed tax bill is probably a bad idea, but not because you need Intuit or any other software. It’s because accountant can find you all kinds of loopholes.

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