Many countries already offer versions of the options the IRS is studying. A 2022 study co-written by Treasury economists found that the U.S. could accurately fill out nearly half of individual tax returns using information it already has from employers and elsewhere.
That step, which would go beyond what the IRS is currently considering, would be a real threat to the tax-preparation industry, which is trying to stop the IRS from getting close. Intuit’s lobbying spending rose 18% in the first three months of 2023, compared with the same quarter a year earlier. H&R Block increased its lobbying costs by 29% over the same interval.
IRS Weighs Creating a Government-Run Tax-Prep Option – WSJ
50% of the taxes filed by the American People could have been filed for them automatically. Then why are we paying people to fill out tax information that the government already has access to? Because of tax prep companies’ lobbyist efforts.
And I bet this plan was leaked by some tax prep company’s PR company in order to try and kill the plan.
They are the worst!