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I.R.S. to Begin Trial of Its Own Free Tax-Filing System (www.nytimes.com)

submitted 10 months ago by HeartyBeast@kbin.social to c/news@beehaw.org

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Residents of 12 states are eligible to participate if they meet certain criteria. But the agency’s plans have already met resistance from tax preparation companies.

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[–] LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.org 46 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington State and Wyoming are participating.

It's a shame more aren't participating but I can see the reasoning behind staged access and iterative improvement. The real pity is that data they've already got won't be preloaded in this stage. It would have been the nail in the coffin for Intuit and other companies' predatory practices on lower income folks, at least as they exist currently.

[–] taanegl@beehaw.org 13 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Just New York and California alone. If the expected turnout is in the millions, one can only hope IBM isn't behind the cloud infrastructure - word to Obama care.

[–] mosiacmango@lemm.ee 13 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I think this is why they are taking it slow.

After the ACA had such a bad start, the obama admin actually opened up "innovation" departments to invite technical experts to modernize goverment infastructure. Those teams have likely done a lot over the decade or so to prevent haphazard rollouts.

EDIT: looks like they work under the title of the "US digital corps" banner and are looking for people.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 3 points 10 months ago

Those plus Florida and Texas. Four most populous states in the country, with New York bringing up the rear.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I know Tennessee has no income tax so maybe states with income tax would rather sit and watch first?

[–] LallyLuckFarm@beehaw.org 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

My understanding is that this program only applies to federal taxes, so I'm not sure that the particular state's income tax laws will have much bearing on selection for participation or which stage of rollout they're added with.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I see. I got nothing, then.

[–] HeartyBeast@kbin.social 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You'll have to fill in a form to prove that, I'm afraid :)

Have a good day.

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 1 points 10 months ago

Ha! Good one!