I appreciate what you're trying to say, but:
This is a direct quote from 1040:
> 14 Add lines 12 and 13
> 15 Subtract line 14 from line 11.
Compared to a real system, that is insane.
You have to deliberately enter redundant information onto a form that should be handled automatically by a computer.
It feels like the only purpose is to catch you out in case you make a mistake.
Furthermore, the system should be set up so most people never even need to file.
You can quickly check in the UK if you need to file via https://www.gov.uk/check-if-you-need-tax-return/
( You don't need even to login to do that one, you can try it out yourself even if you're not in the UK to get a sense for the self-assessment requirements )
Most employed people don't have to file.
And even if you do need to file, you can do so online via another helpful form: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return
Functional online forms which actually take into account your answers and don't ask you to get out a calculator.
And keep in mind that the US tax system feels like it's set up to pretend you "owe" lots of tax, only for there to be a ton of reimbursements or allowances or refunds.
Which is then more forms to fill in (Form 2555 in my case ), each with their own cryptic instructions on where to write numbers and what to add to what:
> Subtract line 25 from line 24. Enter the result here and on line 27 on page 3.
Literally getting you to write it in twice because there's a page break?
Do you really think this is simple?
> 32 Multiply $49.10 by the number of days on line 31. If 365 is entered on line 31, enter $17,920 here
> 33 Subtract line 32 from line 30
> 34 Enter employer-provided amounts. See instructions
> 35 Divide line 34 by line 27. Enter the result as a decimal (rounded to at least three places), but don’t
enter more than “1.000”
> 36 Housing exclusion. Multiply line 33 by line 35. Enter the result but don’t enter more than the amount
on line 34. Also, complete Part VIII
That's a direct quote of 5 lines in a row from form 2555.
That's not a tax form that's a fucking arithmetic test.
Oh, and that "See Instructions" means a completely different booklet of guidance, in case anyone thought it was on the form itself.