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Re:Open Source Tax Software by TedDoesntTalk on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @05:35AM (#28757128)
If that were to happen in America, an entire industry would be put out of business.
Re:Open Source Tax Software by ineedasername on Thursday October 07, 2021 @01:56PM (#28789899)
Well, individual tax prep is just one arm a much larger accounting industry. Individuals that use an accountant for their taxes probably have more complex situations where the sort of streamlines process we're discussing wouldn't suit their needs. Or they're already buying the upgraded business/home-business version of turbotax for the same reason.

Most people though just use a tax preparer at something like H&R block. A little searching indicates there's roughly 60k to 80k jobs like this in the US, and they earn (at least at H&R Block) about $16 per hour, and only for about 3 months a year. A small # of tax preparers with a bit more training & experience may provide other financial services in the off-season or assist small business with quaterly filings or bookkeeping.

Overall though, you're not talking about much of an industry collapse in terms of people employed. The ones that work in that area year-round will lose some extra hours. The ones that don't, having some experience in finance, might seek further training to get a higher level job of that sort (maybe become an actual accountant) I don't think it should be considered a barrier to ending regulatory capture within this area.

Apart from that, a few software products would collapse, losing most customers, retaining the ones that legitimately needed advanced guidance. And the company would probably have to charge the more for it, and possible compete with actual accountants on price in that respect.

But I don't think "industry collapse" is correct.

Re:Open Source Tax Software by brynjolf on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @06:17AM (#28757432)
Sounds like the industry is sustainable only due to it being an industry in the first place. Good riddance.
Re:Open Source Tax Software by ghaff on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @09:19AM (#28759008)
The vast bulk of the accounting industry (including tax software) is not supported by consumers with very basic taxes taking their paperwork down to the mall or typing some numbers into this year's TurboTax.
Re:Open Source Tax Software by LocalH on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @04:17PM (#28765019)
So?