The IRS has all our tax data. Why doesn't its new website use it?

Re:The IRS has all our tax data. Why doesn't its new website... by RodgerTheGreat on Sunday February 04, 2024 @11:55PM (#39257516)

It's not an accident. Lobbyists in the US have spent decades working to hamper the operations of the IRS for a variety of reasons (including limiting their capacity to investigate tax evasion on the part of the people funding the lobbying), and to protect the interests of middlemen like tax services companies.

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Re:The IRS has all our tax data. Why doesn't its new website... by atmavatar on Monday February 05, 2024 @12:19AM (#39257621)

There's also the side bonus that making filing taxes as painful as possible ratchets up the public's irritation at paying them, thus making tax cuts an even more popular policy goal.

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Re:The IRS has all our tax data. Why doesn't its new website... by imtringued on Monday February 05, 2024 @03:02AM (#39258471)

How does cutting taxes make them less irritating? The government can offer you tax rebates or tax credits or deductions that are difficult to obtain. The amount of tax you pay might even go up when the taxes get more complicated.

When I do my tax returns I'm not complaining about the amount at all but about gathering the information. If anything, it distracts from how much I am paying. It's much easier to check how much money you've paid to the government by looking at your monthly salary slip than doing anything tax return related.

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