Have You Paid Your "Intuit Tax"?

"According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, US taxpayers will spend roughly $148 billion preparing their taxes—not counting the average 13 hours of prep time amounting to $316 billion in lost productivity in 2024."

"Imagine a system that is free, with a simple user-friendly online interface where you can enter data, save, and file your return. Or like the systems in most other industrialized countries, where you receive a draft tax return pre-populated with your reported data that you can amend, reject, or file."

"Noa Rosinplotz from the Roosevelt Institute observed, 'The Trump administration has gutted the IRS and handed the tax filing system back to the companies that profit from making you waste time and money filing your taxes.'"

Oligarchs like Sasan Goodarzi leverage their wealth to impose private taxes through tax preparation services, raising costs for taxpayers. In 2024, taxpayers will spend approximately $148 billion on tax preparation, with additional productivity losses. A simpler, free tax filing system exists in other countries, but oligarchs have intervened to maintain the status quo. The Trump administration's actions have further entrenched these companies, undermining efforts for a more efficient tax system. Historical attempts to modernize tax filing have been thwarted by corporate interests.

Read at The Nation