Open Source Tax Software

Re:Open Source Tax Software by reidjs on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @08:57AM (#28758739)

If those represent major complexities maybe there can be open source tax software that serves 80% of people, I.e. people in coastal cities that have one job, and then the remaining 20% have to pay for their software?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by ghaff on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @09:15AM (#28758960)

So sure. You can write software that can handle a simple Federal-only case. (Basically what used to be a 1040-EZ: W-2(s), a couple 1099s with all the cost basis info existing, standard deductions, etc.) But, at that point, your taxes are pretty simple to fill out anyway and I'm guessing there are even spreadsheet templates out there that let you type in some numbers and everything is calculated.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by javagram on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @10:09AM (#28759712)

Moreover, the simple cases are also supported by the IRS free fillable forms product. https://www.freefilefillableforms.com/

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by ghaff on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @11:21AM (#28760676)

Note that this isn't "the IRS." It's an IRS public-private partnership that people below some income threshold can use for free.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by javagram on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @01:54PM (#28762996)

No, it’s usable by any income level. You’re thinking of Free File, which lets lower income users use TurboTax and other products for free.

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-form...

> Free File Fillable Forms is the only IRS Free File option available for taxpayers whose income (AGI) is greater than $72,000. Taxpayers whose income is $72,000 or less qualify for IRS Free File partner offers, which can guide you through the preparation and filing of your tax return, and may include state tax filing.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by ghaff on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @02:32PM (#28763590)

Yes. I misread. Though it's understandable how one could confuse Free File Fillable Forms eith IRS Free File partner offers.

As a comment upthread said. It's presumably legit because it's linked to from the IRS site but almost everything else sets off alarms.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by pradn on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @12:10PM (#28761387)

The IRS could not come up with a website and TLD that sounds more like a scam if they tried. :)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by javagram on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @01:56PM (#28763022)

Yes, although you can get to it directly from the irs.gov site it does seem confusing at first that it’s on a .com

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/free-file-fillable-form...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by PaulDavisThe1st on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @10:11AM (#28759734)

My experience of state taxes over 32 years (WA, PA and NM) has been that filing these returns is easy-peasy compared to my federal return (I'm self-employed).

I'd be happy to have a full federal filing system even if it left me to do my state taxes "by hand".

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by seanmcdirmid on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @10:16AM (#28759798)

> My experience of state taxes over 32 years (WA, PA and NM)

One of those states (WA) doesn’t belong in the list of states that require personal income tax returns, unless you mean something else?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by PaulDavisThe1st on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @10:32AM (#28760012)

It's been 24 years since I was in WA :) I forgot they had no income tax. Sorry.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Open Source Tax Software by hallway_monitor on Tuesday October 05, 2021 @09:17AM (#28758984)

There certainly can be if you want to develop and maintain it.

[ Parent | on HN ]