Maybe a compromise that would keep both sides happy is for the government free file program to apply only to those who owe tax, but if you want a refund you have to pay for tax prep. Would maximize both tax and tax prep company revenue.
…wait.
Anyway, plenty of other capitalist countries have significantly easier filing.
The tax code and filing process should be optimized for efficient use of government resources and tax payer time. There should be zero consideration for maximizing the profit of leaches like Intuit. If anything, we should be working to minimize the profit of such unethical companies.
it seems like you’re arguing complicated is what we deserve, while simultaneously arguing against people who want to make it easier where we can, because making it easier would somehow be a bad thing (and also somehow that more complicated is a net good because complicated means anticommunism?)
if we’re going to pay either way, through taxes or pay a corporation, i want whichever will make our lives better, i don’t particularly care which i pay.
while i’m definitely skeptical of government, i’m absolutely just as skeptical of industry, billionaires, and corporations.
in many instances where corporations have repeatedly proven their unwillingness to do something or repeatedly misled/broke our trust (eg, data abuse) or repeatedly failed to even do the thing, im completely and absolutely on board with just doing it ourselves (government).
The optimal case for efficiency would be to set the personal income tax rate to zero, and remove all deductions. The feds can get their money from corporate taxes, licenses, import duties, and deficit spending.