“Direct File provides a free, secure option for taxpayers with simple tax situations in 12 states to file their taxes directly with the IRS,” the Treasury Department said. “Direct File is easy to use, with no hidden junk fees, and works as well on a smartphone as it does on a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer. Direct File shows taxpayers the math so they can be sure that their return is accurate, and they are getting the refund they are entitled to.”
You can check whether you qualify to use the system at directfile.irs.gov. Based on the eligibility restrictions in the IRS program, the Treasury Department said it “estimates that one-third of all federal income tax returns filed could be prepared using Direct File.”
But there are many limits that would prevent taxpayers from using the system.
Meanwhile, here in Sweden everyone can logon to the tax authority’s website get a prefilled out form ans digitally sign it in 2 min total.
This has been the norm for me the last 5 years, before that I used the preprinted tax form in the mail, I signed it and sent it back. Done.
The US needs to make it easy and convenient to pay taxes.
The problem is that companies like Intuit have resources/lobbyists and really want to maintain their position in the market.
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free
Your system sounds wonderful though.
Not every country has the same relationship to their government. In Switzerland for example our government does not know what we own and have earned, we declare it ourselves. It is fully digital but still takes longer than 5 minutes (it usually takes me around 30 minutes with an income to declare as well a some stocks and other things).
I guess the US has a similar relationship to their government.
In the UK, the vast majority of people in normal jobs don’t need to do anything as it is all dealt with by the employer. Only those with more complicated situations need to do anything, and even then it’s normally relatively painless.
Eh, in New Zealand it’s been one click digital for a very long time too.
I was told they don’t have modern tax forms accross the US because of lobbying from companies like Turbo Tax.