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124 Comments
- wushu18t, on 10/12/2007, -2/+121"When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'"
Of course Big Brother is watching your keystrokes if you were able to file directly to them!! Because those keystrokes are the information you're intentionally sending them. - brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+75"That will come out of your refund with plenty to spare."
Sit down young one. You see, not everyone claims 0 on their W-4. What that means is that some people actually have to PAY taxes at the end of the year. - sotopheavy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+60I would rather it be a free service since they no longer have to manually enter this information. It must save them a bundle.
As for that lawyer, Spreading that kind of fear will surely shut Boston down for weeks. What was he thinking? - DrJ00, on 10/12/2007, -4/+42The problem is the Federal Government already has your info and by not putting in place an e-filing option of their own they are complicit in encouraging the people to give their information to financial institutions, which in turn will be used to generate profit and marketing initiatives. Basically, the government is encouraging people to turn their financial information over to a 3rd party for business interests nothing more.
Congress should legislate that the IRS is required to provide a minimum level of direct e-filing support. I don't e-file because I don't want to put my financial information into the hands of yet another company who's sole purpose is to profit off me as a consumer. There's no reason I should have that as my only option for e-filing. At the very least they should supply a way to submit 1040s online, which is equivalent to filling a paper form(which I fill out in PDF form and print).
Crutching financial service companies in the fleecing of the American people through non-compete agreements is corporate interest governance. - All4not, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41Exactly, the whole point is not to loan the government money. If I had to pay $80 to prepare my taxes I would have came out in the negative after my refund.
You only get a refund when you overpay, hence the word refund. It's like going to the store and paying $3,000 for a TV, but it only costs $2,000. Then a year later the store gives you $1,000 back. Smart people only pay $2,000 in the first place. Now do this for your taxes! - f4st4word, on 10/12/2007, -0/+34"When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'"
Shorter Ryan the Tax Guy:
"Unless you use our tax filing service, the government might actually get a hold of the information that you are preparing specifically to give to the government".
When you file a tax return in any form, you are giving your "keystrokes" directly to the government - that's the whole point. - TastyBaconTreat, on 10/12/2007, -8/+31 The IRS recommends that taxpayers file electronically — e-filing saves the government time and money, and is more accurate than IRS employees who type in the data from paper returns.
But the IRS refuses to set up its own Web portal to receive the filings. Instead, most Americans have no choice but to e-file through private companies like Intuit (Turbo Tax) and HR Block (Tax Cut).
In most cases, the companies charge an extra fee for e-filing. In other countries, free and direct electronic filing is a given. But in the United States, Intuit has lobbied hard to make sure taxpayers aren't allowed to e-file directly to the IRS.
Steve Ryan, a lawyer for the tax-preparation industry who negotiated a deal that has the IRS promising not to set up its own Web portal for e-filing, says his argument was simple.
"When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'" - Angostura, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17Here in the land of King George, the Inland Revenue's Web-based tax-filing system is free and, I have to say really really well designed. Almost a pleasure to watch those thousands of £ disapear from your bank.
- GunbladeVIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16So I can e-file with your company, and then not only does the government see my keystrokes since they're the ultimate destination for the information I'm typing, but then I'm also within my rights to say that someone at your third-party company could also be watching my keystrokes and stealing my vital taxpayer personal data? Great, that sounds so much safer! And oh yeah, can I pay $80 for this too?
- ldkronos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15>...a government monopoly. Similar to the post office, the government would control the industry.
Ah yes, that dreaded government monopoly. It would be great if we had some other SERVICE that could ship PARCELs anywhere in the UNITED states, but that's probably just a pipe dream. - mattshoppes, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19@Guard
So let me get this straight. You'd rather have the goverment have say $1,000 of yours all year long, rather then invest that $1,000 someplace? Personally, I'd rather owe the government $1,000 in the end, and have had all that money to invest. I think what you are saying is you aren't able to manage money so you'd prefer it not be available to you... fair enough - jacastillo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Can only use this if you make less than a certain amount. Won't work for me. Where is my "tax freedom"?
- azymux, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10@DrJ00:
"I don't e-file because I don't want to put my financial information into the hands of yet another company who's sole purpose is to profit off me as a consumer."
Well, isn't the whole point of a company to "profit off me as a consumer"? I realize that a lot of companies do it in "evil" ways, but that statement is a bit over-reaching. - liminaldust, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10g-razor you're a dog of the industry you work for.
stop trying to show things as if it's in our favor,
saying 'you're too stupid to handle things on your own'
pompous bastard...
IRS will dominate the industry, yeah right...
taxes should be paid, but the government is also inflicting an additional cost of 50 to couple hundred dollars on everybody
I absolutely hate the fact that a bunch of people can write some ***** software and then charge each and every person 50-80 bucks to use it, YEAH, EVERY ***** YEAR AFTER YEAR. GTFO. - Egoist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9...of which is an extension of the right to collect income taxes granted to the government in the 16th amendment.
- Rcdriver, on 10/12/2007, -7/+16@jus1haz2
Sealand. - RomeyRome, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13It works well for me because I'm not great @ saving money.
- sremick, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Yeah if you make less than $28K.
- pcyopick, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Server administration etc is a lot less cost than dealing with a traditional paper filing. It's free here in Canada, and I got my money a week after e-filing.
- brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9I'm in ur governments, stealin ur keystrokes
- Brasky, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6To the guy who works for "a large tax company", HOW THE HELL IS THIS GOVERNMENT COMPETITION????? It just cuts ***** like you out of the picture. Seriously, there is NO REASON for e-filing to cost that much extra. It makes things so much easier for everyone and saves lots of money for the IRS while also taking much human error out of the equation. The whole notion that this would be the gov. "cornering the market" on filing your taxes is insane. Did you even think about that before you said it. Its like saying "God damn, the US Army totally has a monopoly on providing protection from foreign aggressors. My private army doesn't have a chance against them..." Its a government agency, why the hell should we have to pay a 3-rd party private company if we want to send them information over the internet?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Here in Canada we have E-File, and in Quebec Netfile. Both of which is free to use for filing.
Even software companies can't charge you for using it, they can only charge for helping you do the tax work. (Hence cost of software) - nreynolds, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7quite flawless logic you have there.
- Davjohn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8United States Code Title 26
- drjekelmrhyde, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10I liked when they had telefile why wont they bring that back
- Davjohn, on 10/12/2007, -25/+30If you'd go to IRS.gov you can use "FreeFile" or "E-File" to do your taxes free if you make less than $52,000 per year. If you do make more than $52,000 per year it will cost $79.95 to do it yourself. That will come out of your refund with plenty to spare.
- Davjohn, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8They don't have to bring it back, it's on irs.gov. It's called freefile.
- bmartin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6For anyone curious as to why these people are being buried for their attempts to help out, the site has specific AGI requirements, is available for only 21 states, and is offered by Intuit.
- melissawm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5In Brazil, a third world country, where people don't even get their taxes returned to them in services (although that seems to be debatable in the US as well), we have already been doing that for years......
- mcd9236, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9Screw the IRS, and screw income tax. Institute a national sales tax, and we wont have to deal with this crap!
- VeganG, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@Guard:
The government isn't paying you interest on the money that they're holding for you, though. They are making money off of you, when you could be making money off of it. - DirtyBrowncoat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Davjohn: Wrong. "United States Code Title 26" is not a law. I think exoSurvive was asking for a specific statute or regulation where it says that he, an American working in the private sector and within one of the 50 states of the Union, trading his labor for a paycheck for a zero-sum gain, is considered "Income" within the definition of the 16th Amendment and, is therefore made LIABLE for this tax.
Egoist: You are correct and incorrect at the same time. The 16th Amendment did give Congress the power to tax "incomes" without apportionment. However, the Supreme Court stated in at least 9 different cases that the 16th Amendment gave no new powers beyond the taxing powers within the Constitution, and that the definition of "income" within the 16th Amendment does NOT include an American's labor. What did Congress have to do before the 16th Amendment? They had to apportion their tax bills among the states, and then the states would bill individuals directly.
Check out this movie in order to wake up to the fraud around you:
http://video.google.com/url?docid=-4312730277175242198&esrc=sr1&ev=v&q=America:++Freedom+To+Fascism&vidurl=http://video.google.com/videoplay%3Fdocid%3D-4312730277175242198%26q%3DAmerica%253A%2B%2BFreedom%2BTo%2BFascism&usg=AL29H20ZVqubiMWvGq1RZ7L-tZzTEfSMZw - jstohler, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Are you an idiot? The government already has that infrastructure in place to accept e-filings from the tax preparers. The issue is that some people get to use the system for free and some have to pay.
- d17182, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Yet another reason for the FairTax, in my opinion.
- Otto, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6@exoSurvive:
If you're going to cite the Supreme Court, then you should say exactly what they said:
In the Supreme Court case of Bowers v. Kerbaugh-Empire Co., Justice Butler stated:
"It was not the purpose or the effect of that (16th) amendment to bring any new subject within the taxing power. Congress already had the power to tax all incomes."
Your argument is, therefore, crap. - Andronicus1717, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Crutching financial service companies in the fleecing of the American people through non-compete agreements is corporate interest governance."
Well said. - r81984, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4We all know there are laws forcing us to pay income tax, but....
How about the law that says selling your labor for an equal amount of money is income.
Because logically when you pay money for a toaster, that toaster is not income, so when you pay labor for money, Why is that income?? - loup, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Or, you know, drastically reduce the size and scope of the federal government, repeal pretty much every tariff and trade act for the past hundred years and then get rid of federal income tax
- drvelocity, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@G-razor - wait a minute, let me get your argument straight.. it would be unfair for the government to make things easier on the American citizen by allowing them to file their taxes directly instead of through a middle man whose "industry" is really nothing more than serving as a guide through the most bloated beauracratic entity in the history of the world? H&R Block doesn't have an industry - they perform a service which is valuable only as long as the IRS remains in the ***** up condition we are forced to reconcile with today. It's a service which we all (other than those working in your position) hope will one day be unnecessary for the vast majority of taxpayers.
- vexter, on 10/12/2007, -12/+15If I did the free 1040EZ, I would lose 10,000 dollars. They are taking advantage of the impatient. Ill mail the first week in April like I always do.
For all of you people who get a refund, I thank you for giving my country an interest free loan. But I must remind you that you could have put that money to work earning interest in some sort of low risk investment. - ldkronos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3>"When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every
>right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'"
But then the next ad would be "If you file your taxes using [insert names of Ryan's clients] software, you could be audited" - bobonot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Without going into the merits and issues with the current system let me point out that the cost of tax preparation ( including fees for electronic services ) is deductible.
Disclaimer: IANATA (I Am Not A Tax Attorney) - airwalkery2k, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Money today is worth more than that same money tomorrow.
It's called inflation, baby. That and lack of interest from your loan to the government. - rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4You're both right - EZ-Pass charges a fee in some instances, but most of the time, there are no service charges. The original poster just lives in a ***** state that takes money from him (or he hasn't checked the latest payment plans).
In Maryland, there are zero fees for EZ-Pass. Yes, if you use a credit card, you have to put a $10 deposit down, but you get it back when (if) you return your EZ-Pass tag. Other than that, there is nothing else to pay. I also know that if you're a regular commuter, EZ-Pass still offers plans that save you money - you pay $1 to go through a $2 toll for example, but you have to go through the toll 20 times a month.
So for most people, EZ-Pass is free, or cheaper than using cash. I still can't figure out why some people don't have it (provided that their state doesn't charge a fee). - radio1mike, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Alright kiddies,
As former tax preparer for the Big Green Square (7 seasons), here are some facts:
1) Congress makes tax laws.
2) The IRS enforces tax laws (federal) and collects taxes (federal).
3) The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of collecting taxes, withholding, etc, etc under the powers given to Congress under the 16th Amendment.
4) Income derived from *any* source, except those deemed 'tax-free' are taxable. Illegal income is taxable or the $25 you made on your last eBay auction.
5) A refund is an overpayment of your taxes.
6) This overpayment can occur for reasons like:
6a) Deductions - Amount of money (X) that reduces your taxable income.
6b) Credits - Amount of money (X) that reduces your actual tax. These can be refundable or non-refundable- refundable (you get no matter what) vs. non-refundable (usually string attached or eligibity/amount income-limited).
7) Withholding: claiming 0 = maximum amount taken, claiming 1 = break even point, claiming 1+ = be ready to pay taxes unless you have: many children or large itemized deductions or other 'losses' like business or rent (Sch C&E)
8) Even claiming 0 will not cover your taxes, if you get a raise during the year or some kind of ISO. You will get penalized by not having your withholding keep up with your income (if you do owe taxes).
9) Just pay your taxes. You enjoy the fruits of the society, just pay your share and nothing more.
As for the original topic, at least for the Big Green Square- you do not pay for 'e-filing' and you have not paid for e-filing (in any DISCREET amount) since 2003. Liberty, JH and others (including BGS) may have included that amount as overall price strategy.
Also, the big guys do charge more the laster in the season you go. The fee structure rises: 1) mid-late Feb, 2) mid-March and 3) last two week of filing time in April. Expect about a $25-$30 price increase between those points. - quickcomment, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I just wish Telefile would come back. I used to be able to Telefile my federal and state taxes and I had pretty much no problems with it; just call up a toll-free number, hit some keys, and wait for your check to come in the mail. For as highly touted a program it was, it didn't last too long.
- WreckerOne, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4""When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'""
What an unbelievable moron of a lawyer. No company has the right to libel a competitor. Claiming that the government is reading individual keystrokes would undoubtedly be false unless the IRS put a key logger in their product, which would open them up to lawsuits. - BigFoot48, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Please, pack your bags and move to Venezuela. You'll be very happy there in that workers paradise.
It's your life - please don't waste it here in America! - fulldecent, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@TFA
> "When the government becomes my competitor," Ryan says, "then I have every right to run an ad that says 'Big Brother is watching your keystrokes.'"
Versus Intuit is watching your keystrokes. - quik22, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4ez-pass saves you money, dumbass.
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