AP: Senators Criticize IRS Filing Program (Free File)

[Eugene]

Senators Criticize IRS Filing Program

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, November 2, 2006

(11-02) 14:53 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee say a deal between the Internal
Revenue Service and private tax preparers that allows people to submit
returns by computer is too restrictive and discourages electronic filing.

Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Max Baucus, D-Mont., said declines
in participation in the Free File program show it is not working.

"If the tax preparation industry cannot provide free basic filing services
without hidden costs and traps, perhaps it is time to consider having the
IRS provide a direct filing portal to enable all taxpayers to file
electronically without cost," they wrote IRS Commissioner Mark Everson
on Thursday.

A recent report by an internal watchdog at the Treasury Department noted
that fewer people were using the program after renegotiating of the contract
between the IRS and the private industry that went into effect in January.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/11/02/national/w145300S74.DTL

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. Use TurboTax

and do it yourself. it's only 15 bucks, checks your math, etc for you. If you make under poverty level, they won't even charge you the $15.

[high density]

2. I agree completely!!!

The IRS should be encouraging us to e-file our taxes but the current setup isn't doing that. It's ridiculous that we need to hunt for "free" services from private companies to submit our taxes electronically. I don't need the middle man.

[mcscajun]

3. Yes, the IRS should be providing a direct filing portal.

I use TurboTax, but that software isn't free, either.

Certainly it's time for the government to open a tax filing portal, but of course, one must consider: THIS Government? The one run by a pResident who used "the Google" on "the Internets" and assisted by a US Senator who thinks the Internet is "a series of tubes"??

That Government?
:spray: :rofl: :spray: :spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray::spray: :rofl: :spray: :rofl: :spray:

As Bugs Bunny would say: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH, I'm DY-IN!

Please, I'll wait for a Democratic admin to cut the ribbon on this one.