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How Tax Prep Companies Blocked A Free Tax Filing System
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 เม.ย. 2022
- Tax filing could be free right now. The IRS already has the authority to create a free, easy-to-use online tax filing tool, as Elizabeth Warren explains. But tax prep companies like Intuit and H&R Block have spent millions of dollars to stop the IRS from creating it. Instead, Americans will spend $31 billion this year for the privilege of paying services like TurboTax to file for them.
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I remember calling up an H&R block and walking them through how I was filling my taxes over the phone. I asked them if they would do anything different or get me a better rebate for the money I was paying them. The lady on the phone straight up said
“No we do the exact same thing”.
Unless you have extremely complicated businesses which require vast amounts of accounting you can %1000 get away with doing your own taxes. Plus you learn so much while you’re doing it! TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Oh yeah I’m Canadian btw lol
I remember filing with h&r last year due to the fear of having my first child and not knowing the "difficulty" of filing taxes now that I have a kid. Soooo I got suckered into a trip to h&r. Almost $400 to file because "you have a special form now that you have a child". All they did was enter in his social security number and name...🤦
@@Ammut6 soulless mofos! They should be discounting families, not ripping them off even more!
I like that you cross-post content like this that isn't strictly union focused from time to time. Build a movement. Solidarity.
It is beyond wild that people know and understand that the government knows how much we owe in taxes and doesn't need any info from us to complete the process, but makes use guess anyway, and pay for the privilege, yet most lawmakers feel no need to change this system
Some say small government, I say not small enough in situations like this. This is shameful!
Lawmakers want your life to work for them and not for you. The tax accountants are making money and the negative impact seems to be on those people with low incomes who would be receiving refunds for filing. It's a racket. It's a scam.
Not true. Information are not linked and exist in many systems. Some arent even in any system. Like donations to smaller charities are probably kept in books.
You would be surprised how pathetic and low tech government systems are. They are 20-30 years behind most companies.
@@b3arwithm3 You don't need high tech to do taxes, this has all been possible for decades, tons of other developed countries do it this way and have done it this way for a long time. Why is it that when America has a backwards system whose sole purpose is making a handful of big companies very rich people come out of the woodwork to insist that "innovative" private models are they only way to do anything ever?
@@christopherbope4940 maybe their gov spent money more wisely and get things done. Except for few institutions like NASA, I haven’t seen ours being able to do anything decent let alone innovative. When a developer in Facebook are paid 3 times one working for gov, you can tell what quality of people they employ and chances they can pull something out. They cheap out on paying employees but funnel the vast amount of money to federal contractors who lobby and bribe the decision makers
You shouldn't HAVE to file whatsoever. The IRS should mail you a check or a bill, accompanied by what they understand your taxes are, and you only file if you want to contest their documentation. You should never have to fear making a mistake and getting into legal trouble. If you don't sign and return a filing, you are free and clear.
I remember finding out this year that TurboTax was "no longer offering free filing" or that if I wanted to file for free that I had to file in a very small timeframe.
So I did some digging and found the free file link. But even with the free filing there was so much manipulation going on within the webpages and so many tricky questions and misplaced buttons (swapping yes and no buttons around for those that just like to continue clicking as fast as possible) and even at the very end they still tried to trick me into paying to file!
I really hope next year isn't as deceitful. I was still able to finish filing within half an hour so I guess that was nice. . .
Exactly. In the past I've always been concerned by how much of my information they get before I learn whether it's free or not. AARP is no better. They actually deliberately screwed-up my return because they didn't know how to handle the capitol gains portion. They said it was less than a $100 discrepancy and that AARP doesn't require them to recalculate the tax! So there goes my best option...
@@tombolo4120 a discrepancy is still a discrepancy no matter the amount. What a bunch of crap.
I had these same problems with the sites IRS suggests are free. They are so confusing and in the end tell me I still have to pay. And then I never stop getting crap from them in my inbox!😡😡😡😡
Intuit forced me to buy their Deluxe Edition to submit my return. A total scam. Why can't the IRS do what's suggested here? So we don't have to use a middle man and their slow service to submit tax paperwork?
In order to file my taxes, Intuit told me I had to buy their business software for an additional $170. I went elsewhere and didn't need anything additional.
Why don't you file a paper return?
I think you just called me a liar on national TV
I remember that moment.
Everyone should Trust the Government
You are joking right?!😂
@@tracyfox466 Why would ANYONE trust something so corrupt?
I get the joke.
I tried h&r block Decades ago. If you have a business they don't put your deductions in. I don't want them to touch more of me.
wait, so the lobbyists spent all that money and then who exactly implemented their dreams?
who had majority of house, senate in 2005?
who was president in 2005 that signed it?
Hooray for Senator Warren's point of view! Citizens are consumers and all deserve to be treated fairly!
You mean poor people.
Man the usa is so backwards. I'm a duel citizen of the usa and in aus the gov set up an online tool that makes it so easy and free. Its really not that hard to create a user friendly platform for its citizens in 2022.
Why is our gov so fucked up, in the first place?
Please. I hate doing taxes, I don't mind paying them. Just tell me what I owe.
Imagine a world where you didn't have to pay anyone each year. What would you do with your extra, say $300?
@@free2express08 pay that 300 to whoever picks up the slack made by the government, probably plus interest. Every road and sidewalk and non-footpacked dirt path being a toll road/path
I don't particularly like Ms. Warren, but I don't care. I want this!
I hope the politicians you support are giving you good info and making plans to help the American people.
@@free2express08 Many politicians have good ideas, doesn't mean they can get them passed. Medicare for all is actually popular among citizens, still doesn't get passed. I'm hopeful, that in time the things that need to get done will, just may not be on my lifetime. Keeping the fight alive as long as I am.
I like to make my own choices, instead of government making choices for me, i don’t need there help
@@mikemcmikemcyeahok4977I’m with this man, private industry can help. But I’m always for more info.
Thank you for this video!
This is why I love Warren, and so wish she'd been seen as a more viable candidate for her party.
Found your post interesting to watch. I can't wait to see your new videos soon. Good Luck with the upcoming update. This TH-cam channel is very informative and effective.
This would be a blessing! Save us!
We have to save ourselves. Spread the word, get people to vote for politicians who have a plan to help and expose this kind of thing.
@@free2express08 #Freefile
@@free2express08 Ok, so if you are super poor... great.
Yes, but we don't need to give Billions to the IRS in order to setup a system like what warren is describing here.
We are giving Billions to the lobbyist hr block and turbo tax now, so why not spend that money to change the system to make it easier for us?
@@wkp5285 No money needs to be spent. The IRS already is doing all of this work already. All we need to do is change it so the IRS does your taxes after receiving your tax report from your employer; instead of doing your taxes after receiving your tax report from your employer and you.
@@Nahakii Then that’s even better. Thanks
I rather pay for TT then seeing my money wasted into another government system that will surely be hard to use, antiquated, takes 15 years to build, and be over charged to tax payers
I think they must need $80 billion, in order to pay for the lawyers to go after the ten thousand, $80 million-aires, at a 10% recuperation, break even level. Hahaha.. i don't even know what I'm talking about, do they??
Public owned versions of most industries would stop this quickly.
I don't trust large private owned companies like these. Lobbying.... It should be illegal IMO.
@@free2express08 Agreed.
@@free2express08 yea but companies and those with money will figure out how to leverage it. Instead make them do it loudly and publicly. Anything not the loud, public method is illegal. What they want is to manipulate from the 'shadows', so don't say 'you can't do that' instead say, you can do it, but it better be here in the spotlight where the public can judge it. Otherwise it is just a cat and mouse game.
@@Thk10188965 Legit idea. Sunlight...
Thank you Elizabeth! LOVE YOU!!!
I just tried clicking on the 'File for Free' button on the IRS website. The first thing I got stuck on was the ID.Me verification form. They want me to upload my ID. This is very scary. I never had to upload my ID when I filed with TurboTax. Am I doing something wrong?
This is pretty standard when you set up an account with the IRS. I’ve done it and it’s nothing to worry about. It’s mostly used for the user’s security protection.👍🏻
Update. I don't know what I did but I went back a couple of days later and clicked on the FreeTaxUSA link and it didn't ask me to upload any IDs. Upon finishing up my tax, it only asked me to submit my driver license number as part of proof of my identity of filing my tax. Again no picture ID was ever requested. Hope that helps.
You know in Poland we have the government internet tax service. I just check if all my incomes are there I fill on-line the tax deduction and confirm the form and that's all. All online.
80 billion dollars to write a program to free file, and they would still screw it up.
Oh , would just love to have the IRS prepare my taxes. They do such a fabulous job at everything they do currently 😂
"Why not done yet?"
💰.
This only applies to W2 workers. For all of the small businesses tax software works great and is very easy compared to hiring an accountant
💯💯
Instead of just telling us it should be there, why not demonstrate how to access it. I was denied the free AND the basic option because I own 1 home; there is no tax credit, no tax benefit to owning a home.
Is file tax in library is free or they charged you more i donot believe them?
We can have US govt inspect our food supply but K Street Tax Lobby block this. Imagine all those hours used to clean up our neighborhoods. Spain learned from US to implement tax system and reverted to what she says. Here is your report you get refund or owe for simple tax returns.
Plus these tax prep companies will do better quality work for more complicated returns.
Please continue the fight. I speak from experience working at one of these tax prep firms and some people have no business doing it by themselves. Firm is TT
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
Not true. There is no free lunch. Usually, government stuff sucks because nobody cares and it becomes a bureaucratic and technical monopoly (government monopoly not good), and 99% of the time the private industry makes things much better and if free competition is allowed the users end up with a better product
Because Bernie won’t run again,if Elizabeth would, she would get my vote simply because she’s the president we need
We need a progressive in office! They would give the working class a fighting chance.
@@free2express08 fairly sure we need progressive all branches of government, otherwise the president just ends up mostly a figure-head
So explain to me the following:
What's the INCENTIVE to risk your life savings under Warren's tax plan?.
Tax unrealized capital gains? Why have stocks?
What's the INCENTIVE to produce under high taxes?
@@youtubesucks1499 Taxes haven't been mentioned in this comment thread. So since you have invented comment topics, ill cherry pick questions I feel like answering. "What's the INCENTIVE to produce under high taxes?" Literally anything other than hedonistic materialistic greed/power lust. If you can think of no other reasons to do things, I am sad for you. (also taxes should probably stop being on anything other than net wealth gain, but making that a robust system would probably end up complex and difficult)
Dang Elizabeth- I have always took pride and being independent voter. But I lean towards conservative. However - Drugs - we cannot afford them. Tax filing is ridiculous!!!! This should be done with! Why take ten years?
wait, each of these companies pay 3M lobbying the government?? thats peanuts. There’s gotta be something else that explain it better.
make it easier or use computers to do all the work.
The irony of a politician who is part of the problem of congress and their being beholden to lobbiests explaining that because their coworkers are greedy, we have to keep paying for a service that should be free and provided to us by the IRS, since we have no option not to pay taxes. What a fuckin joke this country has become.
So your telling me there's free tax filling Republicans was give that money to the businesses
Democratic wanna give it to the governments they work at...
🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍
This is so confusing! The top two companies spent less than $4 million each (on lobbying), and we (as a whole) spend $30 billion each year? And, IRS needs $80 billion over ten years, to stop 4+4+3+2+2+2+1+1+1+1+1+.7+.6+.5+.5+
.4+.4+.3+.3+.3+.2+.2+.2+.1+.1+.1+.1+.1+.1= $27.2 million? (I just made up imaginary lobbyists to add to the equation, but the point is...) Even $27.2 million / $8 billion ($80 billion/10years) = .003, or 0.3%, of the federal proposal money, is spent by the lobbyists, to keep taking tax payer's money.
0.3% !!!??? What the heck!!!??? Why do we need to spend 80 billion dollars, if the IRS already has the information, and just needs to mail most of us a computer generated form to look over, possibly amend, and then sign?
I'm sorry, I'm all for the government doing the right thing, especially when private companies prey on us citizens just doing what we have to do, by law... But why the heck are they even allowed to do this, and why does it cost so much money to stop them, when they're apparently, not spending anywhere near that amount, to continue doing it!!!????
That money ($80billion) is not to make it easier for us. That money would be used to hire more employees so that the IRS had the people to ho after the 0.1%ers who pay little to no taxes. I’d say that is a good thing. Think what a progressive government could do by simply getting the filthy rich to start paying taxes!
@@lzrd8460 that's what I'm saying... Why do we have to spend so much money, to stop the criminals, that are barely spending anything, to do their crime?
They "buy" a ski mask, hoodie, rusty crowbar, and an energy drink... Costing them.. eight bucks?
And we have to spend... Not eighty bucks.. not even eight hundred bucks.. but, eight thousand bucks!?..... Just to stop them, or counter their offensive.. WTF..!!..??...... That's all...!???????
Warren must be "associated" with the contractor firm that stands to benefit from this implementation. At the end, it will cost us more in tax than the 50$ we pay annually to intuit.
Jeez, maybe next time people will vote for Brandon.
People are too distracted with cultural issues that they don't even know they're being screwed over.
@@free2express08 Culture is our operating system; television our programming. Too many channels 🤣
if only the democrats were in power
We need progressives in charge for once.
Pocahontas
Intuit is the worst and should just be shut down, they were better when they just made Quickbooks
And then it's only free if they deem you to not have a "special file" smh
Isn’t turbo tax free?
Bless you, my friend.
lol, show me a government program that worked as advertised first?
I'd rather try something by a government committed to us all than rich people who knowingly screw the American people over. That's silly IMO
lol.... Yeah... I bet you are quick to blurt out the "thank you for your service" loud and often.
The Tennessee Valley Authority
D-Day
why did she screw over Bernie Sanders??
Amazing reading comment about how easy or difficult tax service software is. My personal issue is that I am required to pay/file my taxes by the IRS/US Gov, but having a for profit system in place is totally wrong. Makes me just want to not file my taxes. Doing taxes is not hard, but paying (for my filings) $70 - 100 is a bunch of crap. All of these filing services are always trying to rope you into an upgrade tier service too......like that does anything more for you.
Yeah, for poor people....
Nope we don't need more federal employees. The federal government has never been efficient in anything that they have run. As president Regan once said "I'm here from the government to help you. He said those are the scariest words that can be spoken. Hold onto ur wallets. I'm sure they IRS will maximize the taxes u pay. No thanks. More bureaucratic regulation and inefficiency. Simplify The tax code period.
No, the IRS doesn't maximize the taxes you pay. They list the free file options on the website and advertise it. Those employees are good people and they are unionized. The IRS sent out those stimulus checks and provided web information, a separate dedicated phone line to answer questions, plus sent out checks, direct deposit or prepaid cards to make it easier for people. People want roads, and schools for kids, and the military, among other things, so you need to pay some taxes for those things as a part of society (if you make over the minimum deduction). Fully funding the IRS would enable them to go after wealthy people.
Best thing about Ronnie Raygun . . . he's dead.
th-cam.com/video/6lIqNjC1RKU/w-d-xo.html
Our 1st celebrity idiot POTUS
Scariest is an opinion. Also, if Republicans had it their way, we would be paying no taxes. Many of them already say it's the government stealing from us. Corporations basically making us pay to file taxes is arguably the real theft. I trust the government over a rich man who has his own profits as his priority.
The US Armed Services has entered the chat.
Boomer bullshit
You are acting as if these corporations don't have thousands of middle class employees who depend on the current system to make a living. Think about what you are doing BEFORE DESTROYING THIS INDUSTRY people!
Jobs designed to intentionally rip off American consumers do not deserve protection.
🤣
Yes. Let's keep the USA like the old Soviet Union, where everyone has a job despite it being redundant.
Sorry, john. But this has got to be the dumbest argument ever.
Why should i care about a parasitic industry