They're made that way on purpose. * doesn't want the average Joe gatting these breaks.
By MARY DALRYMPLE, AP Tax Writer
WASHINGTON - Taxpayers working feverishly to meet the April 15 filing deadline can take some comfort knowing they are not alone when it comes to scratching their heads over this year's forms. Tax returns are getting more complicated.
The government estimates that the average taxpayer filing a typical tax return with itemized deductions and income from interest, capital gains and dividends, has to spend 42 minutes more than last year doing the math and paperwork.
The total estimated time to finish these common forms is 28 hours and 30 minutes.
It is not only frustrating, but economically counterproductive, said David Keating, senior counselor for the National Taxpayers Union and author of a new study on tax complexity.
"This is something that hobbles the nation's productivity because we have a lot of very talented people filling out paperwork," he said. "It's a real deadweight in our economy."
Even the simplest Form 1040EZ tax return takes 3 hours and 43 minutes to complete.
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