Californians: free tax-prep, courtesy of the gubmint
Fred sez, "As tax season approaches, Californians might want to know that, if you're single and your taxes are relatively simple, California may have filled out your return for you. Do you really want to pay TurboTax, again, for collating the information the government already has?"
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(Thanks, Fred!)
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Not to come off sounding like a political tool, but I first heard of this practice as part of Obama's economic advisors for his presidency campaign.
The Audacity of Data
you know, you keep filing those returns and they'll expect you to do it every year
@Takuan, I know, isn't that ridiculous? It's like, "I just did this last year!"
yep, that's why I gave it up. Food here is monotonous but I get lots of time to post and surf.
California has always done this. There's a companion service where they seize your assets to pay the bill.
And as we know, Californian government officials NEVER make accounting mistakes.
My accountant told me that California is much more vicious than the IRS. They'll seize your bank account, snatch your car, put a lien on your house, even send out a chick on a bicycle to grab your dog.
Turbotax Federal is free for "1040EZ &
Simple Returns". Dunno about state returns. Dunno about competitor Taxcut.
If you made less than a certain amount, you can do the federal for free too, through places like turbo tax. Irs.gov has the info on the front page. Here in Indiana, if you go to www.in.gov, you can use ifile for free. It's really easy I've done it a few times. I think it's just wrong to make people pay for the service.
@antinous What? Really? People here in California actually have houses?
(I guess, on the bright side, I no longer have any assets to seize.)
Zuzu, Liechtenstein is the Bermuda Islands of Germany. Be careful what you wish for.
People here in California actually have houses?
I had a house. Appraised in 2005 for $600K. Sold in 2006 for $480K. Probably worth $300K today. At least I got out in one piece.
that's one hell of a fridge box
Zuzu: Nonsense. We're citizens, and the government belongs to us. We undertake to tax ourselves for approved purposes, and are much the better for it.
If the system doesn't always work like that, the system needs fixing, not throwing out.
Antinous, That's normal procedure just about anywhere. At one time I carpooled to work every morning with three guys who worked for the Arizona State Tax Commission. Their conversation was full of ways to collect from recalcitrant taxpayers. Grabbing your car, your bank account, and (if necessary) your house is a standard opening move. With most people, that's all they have that's worth grabbing.
that's why you keep everything in your significant other's name
In those days, $500+ per square foot was common.
must have been a Whirlpool
Theft is still theft, whether done by one or many. Just as murder is still murder, even if organized into a "war".
Dress it up in "honor", "duty", and "citizenship" all you like; the reality is that government is an armed gang using violence to enforce its edicts like any other band of thugs.
枪杆子里面出政权
government is an armed gang using violence to enforce its edicts like any other band of thugs
No argument here.
other things grow out the barrel of a gun too
Mao was a pig
Government is the compromise that capital makes with labor.
Zuzu, you sound like a glibertarian to me, is that correct?
Ahhhh... it was a stupid question. Sorry about that. It was late, I was tired. I think you have a lot of interesting things to say.
Noen,
Is this a performance piece?
I am worried about you, my child, that is the third instance in less than a week of you ascribing error or unskillfulness to fatigue. Get some real rest lest the leopards take you.
Not sure a lot of people in this state know it, but this story sort of applies to Kentucky too. Any local Department of Revenue branch will do your taxes, all the way to electronic submission, federal, state, and local.