The de-facto online filing
2013-03-26 18:40:51.74868+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments
2013-03-26 18:40:51.74868+00 by Dan Lyke 3 comments
[ related topics: Politics Government ]
comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):
#Comment Re: made: 2013-03-26 20:59:15.379246+00 by: petronius
I remember when the form 1040EZ came out, and hearing Madam Petronius' IRS colleagues discussing it. "There is literally nothing to audit on this thing!" was the most common reaction. If you spelled your name right the form would pass muster. Of course, anybody with a larger income or more complex financial situation would have to go the normal route, but they saw no other problem. Then the tax preparer companies like HR Block, etc began offering special deals on doing your EZ. Basically, everybody was so scared of the IRS they were afraid to fill out even this most innocuous of forms. HR Block is not selling tax services so much as peace of mind. Intuit is also doing that, with the added extra of allegedly saving you some money.
#Comment Re: made: 2013-03-26 21:54:12.732692+00 by: Mars Saxman [edit history]
But of course. Who cares how innocuous they think the form is? They're not the ones who are risking total financial ruin if they happen to guess wrong when trying to make sense out of the lawyerese in the instructions. I don't pay H&R Block to fill out the forms; I pay them to insure me against the danger that the IRS will ruin my life.
#Comment Re: made: 2013-03-27 10:25:38.465014+00 by: meuon [edit history]
The IRS can still ruin your life. Paying a professional reduces your liability, it does not remove it. My biggest issue: "appeals" in the IRS is before a "Judge" that is part of the IRS system... and is a complete farce. They'll decide whatever they darn well want to and you have very limited appeal.
The dirtiest trick I know of is to 1099 someone for a lot of money from a corp that no longer exists.. (or did not exist). I know.. I'm still paying the IRS.