IRS gets something right

[charrison]

linkage

Whoever said there is no such thing as a free lunch may have been right. But for millions of eligible taxpayers, with an Adjusted Gross Income of $50,000 or less, there is Free File. Free File is online tax preparation and electronic filing through a partnership agreement between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, LLC. In other words, you can e-file... free.

I guess after billions spent in IRS IT modernization, we are finally beginning to see some results of that.

 

[Dissipate]

LMAO. Free filing, what a knee slapper. This is like the ads I see on TV for tax software. You see this guy with a big smile on his face as they tell you: "It is so EASY to file your taxes."

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
LMAO. Free filing, what a knee slapper. This is like the ads I see on TV for tax software. You see this guy with a big smile on his face as they tell you: "It is so EASY to file your taxes."

Your right someone is picking up the cost somewhere, but this is no doubt a less expensive solution than what was in place before.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Dissipate
LMAO. Free filing, what a knee slapper. This is like the ads I see on TV for tax software. You see this guy with a big smile on his face as they tell you: "It is so EASY to file your taxes."

Your right someone is picking up the cost somewhere, but this is no doubt a less expensive solution than what was in place before.

You don't think it is a sad state of affairs when we applaud when we have to pay less money in calculating how much we 'owe' the government?

 

[EagleKeeper]

This has been in effect for that past 4-5 years.

Forced down the throat of the S/W providers as a condition and to remove some paperwork.

However, few states have followed suit.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Dissipate
LMAO. Free filing, what a knee slapper. This is like the ads I see on TV for tax software. You see this guy with a big smile on his face as they tell you: "It is so EASY to file your taxes."

Your right someone is picking up the cost somewhere, but this is no doubt a less expensive solution than what was in place before.

You don't think it is a sad state of affairs when we applaud when we have to pay less money in calculating how much we 'owe' the government?

I think you would be even more shocked to know how much money has been wasted in the IRS IT modernization program.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Dissipate
LMAO. Free filing, what a knee slapper. This is like the ads I see on TV for tax software. You see this guy with a big smile on his face as they tell you: "It is so EASY to file your taxes."

Your right someone is picking up the cost somewhere, but this is no doubt a less expensive solution than what was in place before.

You don't think it is a sad state of affairs when we applaud when we have to pay less money in calculating how much we 'owe' the government?

I think you would be even more shocked to know how much money has been wasted in the IRS IT modernization program.

No, I don't think I would be.

 

[Engineer]

Well, some of us don't qualify. I could have been a bastard and did the tax forms and sent them in via regular snail mail which would have cost the government far more to enter/check than to pay online filers a small fee.

Oh, and this has been the case for a few years now. It was a larger AGI last year, IIRC as I filed free last year.

To cover part of the cost, they (IRS) also dropped Teletax, which I'm sure wasn't cheap (1800 number, etc).

 

[alchemize]

I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

Really? Just online filers? I thought that the IRS was going to shift resources from data entry (hence, online filing) and more resources toward ALL audits. Wonder why just online filers?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

Where did that come from?

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

I heard your chances of an audit are lower when you don't even file at all.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

What is your source on that?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

I heard your chances of an audit are lower when you don't even file at all.

As long as you never file and/or attempt to obtain any government benefits/assistance

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

I heard your chances of an audit are lower when you don't even file at all.

As long as you never file and/or attempt to obtain any government benefits/assistance

Assuming you are a taxpayer that probably isn't going to be the case.

According to IRS statistics 1 out of 5 people who supposedly 'ought' to be filing are not filing. And that number is going up. That's millions of Americans.

 

[MonkeyK]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Well, some of us don't qualify. I could have been a bastard and did the tax forms and sent them in via regular snail mail which would have cost the government far more to enter/check than to pay online filers a small fee.

Oh, and this has been the case for a few years now. It was a larger AGI last year, IIRC as I filed free last year.

To cover part of the cost, they (IRS) also dropped Teletax, which I'm sure wasn't cheap (1800 number, etc).

Agreed. All electronic filing should be free. I cannot imagine that it costs the IRS less to reenter everything.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: MonkeyK

Originally posted by: Engineer
Well, some of us don't qualify. I could have been a bastard and did the tax forms and sent them in via regular snail mail which would have cost the government far more to enter/check than to pay online filers a small fee.

Oh, and this has been the case for a few years now. It was a larger AGI last year, IIRC as I filed free last year.

To cover part of the cost, they (IRS) also dropped Teletax, which I'm sure wasn't cheap (1800 number, etc).

Agreed. All electronic filing should be free. I cannot imagine that it costs the IRS less to reenter everything.

Not to mention the elimination of mistakes that the online filing tends to reduce. TurboTax.com asks simple questions with fill in the blank. Took me 15 minutes to finish both state and federal taxes.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: alchemize
I used to file electronically. Now that I've learned you have a higher chance of an audit - I'm back to snailing em.

I take it back - it may be an urban legend after I did some research.

Maybe if you wait till the deadline to file, and file by mail, I would think you decrease your chances. Who knows.

I'm toast anyhow cause my previous company screwed up and double transmitted 4 months of payroll, so I've got 5 years of audits coming I bet.