(no subject)

[arethinn]

Does anyone have any idea why the IRS hasn't set up their own internal e-filing system for federal tax returns (like the Franchise Tax Board has in California) and instead requires you to use an outside company? And what's more, why list so many of them? Since I qualify for the free e-filing I have to look through like thirteen different websites to see if there may in fact be any difference between them that would lead me to choose one over another. I mean wtf?

Edit: oopsz opines that there is probably legislation specifically preventing the IRS from doing this. (What a dumb idea. There oughta be a law! er...)

Comments

[heartssdesire.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't bother with most of them. Turbo tax or HR Block are free and both work fine, and unless you make lots of money you probably qualify for the free versions. A lot of the lesser known ones that IRS lists have weird requirements or aren't really free, and it's probably not worth bothering looking at them all.

[arethinn]

I mean, even after eliminating the ones where I am not in the right state or make too much money, there are still thirteen left in the list where I do qualify for free federal filing, and I have no idea what would tell one apart from another. It would be so much simpler if there were just the one.