Credit Karma: Why are Americans still paying to file taxes?

[loco]

From the same people who first brought you your FREE credit score:

[Core]

Or you could just not pay the illegal and unconstitutional income tax in the first place? There is no physical law written anywhere that says you are required to pay, only that you are able to pay voluntarily if you choose to.

[mazrim]

Or you could just not pay the illegal and unconstitutional income tax in the first place? There is no physical law written anywhere that says you are required to pay, only that you are able to pay voluntarily if you choose to.

I'm dumb. Explain this.

[bears]

I'm dumb. Explain this.

the Wesley Snipes argument.  he lost.

[loco]

the Wesley Snipes argument.  he lost.

Yup

[Core]

I'm dumb. Explain this.

This is a very good documentary that explains it.

Or if you wish to read

http://givemeliberty.org/features/taxes/ad/WtpLitAdColor.pdf

[Slapper]

the Wesley Snipes argument.  he lost.

Wesley had the case won though. He never expected the IRS to take the trial to Ocala County (rednecksville).

No one was able to point to the law that states that this man has to pay anyone any taxes for anything.

How the IRS gets away with this shit is surreal.

[bears]

Wesley had the case won though. He never expected the IRS to take the trial to Ocala County (rednecksville).

No one was able to point to the law that states that this man has to pay anyone any taxes for anything.

How the IRS gets away with this shit is surreal.

was an interesting argument.  but I wouldn't advise going that route.

[loco]

Wesley had the case won though.

Hard to say he won when he ended up behind bars.  It's a losing battle, a suicide mission.  Just pay your darn taxes and stay out of prison.

[Straw Man]

From the same people who first brought you your FREE credit score:

Do you work for Credit Karma

Just seems  weird that you're posting an advertisement for them

I'm guessing you've never filed a tax return in the US but from your perspective as a non US citizen do you think people in the US would really want the government to file a tax return on their behalf.

As you know, this would require the government to know how much you paid in mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable contributions, unreimbursed employee expenses (if you're paid on a W2) etc...  If you own rental property then the government would have to know not only interest and taxes, but fees for repairs, property management, insurance premiums, calculate depreciation, etc..  If you own receive income or  have expenses from an estate or trust or ownership in an LLC then you have K-1's.   Again, do you think these people would want to depend on a government employee to compile and report all of that correctly

Haven't even mentioned someone who files a Schedule C (you know, all those small business owners all over the country)
Is the government going to know all of their  expenses?  Do you really think small business owners are going to want the government to take that out of their hands (the business owner) and they will just trust the government to do that correctly?

[loco]

Do you work for Credit Karma

Just seems  weird that you're posting an advertisement for them

I'm guessing you've never filed a tax return in the US but from your perspective as a non US citizen do you think people in the US would really want the government to file a tax return on their behalf.

As you know, this would require the government to know how much you paid in mortgage interest, property taxes, charitable contributions, unreimbursed employee expenses (if you're paid on a W2) etc...  If you own rental property then the government would have to know not only interest and taxes, but fees for repairs, property management, insurance premiums, calculate depreciation, etc..  If you own receive income or  have expenses from an estate or trust or ownership in an LLC then you have K-1's.   Again, do you think these people would want to depend on a government employee to compile and report all of that correctly

Haven't even mentioned someone who files a Schedule C (you know, all those small business owners all over the country)
Is the government going to know all of their  expenses?  Do you really think small business owners are going to want the government to take that out of their hands (the business owner) and they will just trust the government to do that correctly?

No, I don't work for Credit Karma.

The video does not say the US government should file taxes on your behalf.  They simply mention the UK as an example of a country where people don't pay to get their taxes filed.

I do know Credit Karma was the first to give you your free credit score.  Before that, you had to pay to see your credit score.  After Credit Karma made credit scores available for free, credit card companies started offering free credit scores too.

Then, Credit Karma made two out of three credit reports available for free on demand.  Before, people had to wait a year to see their three credit reports, or pay the agencies to see it more often if they wanted to.

Now, it looks like Credit Karma will offer software to prepare and file your taxes for free.  Free tax filing has been around for a while, but only for very simple tax returns.  Most working, middle class people don't have a simple tax return.

In my book, these are all great things Credit Karma has done for people.  

[Straw Man]

No, I don't work for Credit Karma.

The video does not say the US government should file taxes on your behalf.  They simply mention the UK as an example of how citizens to pay to get their taxes filed.

I do know Credit Karma was the first to give you your free credit score.  Before that, you had to pay to see your credit score.  After Credit Karma made credit scores available for free, credit card companies started offering free credit scores too.

Then, Credit Karma made two out of three credit reports available for free on demand.  Before, people had to wait a year to see their three credit reports, or pay the agencies to see it more often if they wanted to.

Now, it looks like Credit Karma will offer software to prepare and file your taxes for free.  Free tax filing has been around for a while, but only for very simple tax returns.  Most working, middle class people don't have a simple tax return.

In my book, these are all great things Credit Karma has done for people.  

You seem to know a lot about this Credit Karma company.

Are you sure you don't work for them?

Can you tell us how Credit Karma benefits by providing a "free" tax preparation service?

BTW - you know those "scores" they provide are not the actual credit scores but just their ball park estimate and pretty much worthless

[loco]

You seem to know a lot about this Credit Karma company.

Are you sure you don't work for them?

Can you tell us how Credit Karma benefits by providing a "free" tax preparation service?

BTW - you know those "scores" they provide are not the actual credit scores but just their ball park estimate and pretty much worthless

Yes, I am sure that I don't work for Credit Karma.  Do you have to work for them to know about them?  Strange that you'd think that.

I don't know all of the ways in which Credit Karma benefits by providing a "free" tax preparation service.  One way they probably do benefit is by looking at your income and then displaying a lot of credit card offers and other ads tailored to your level of income, but that's just a guess.

Credit Karma will show you your free credit scores and your free credit reports from both TransUnion and Equifax.  They offer free credit monitoring too.  Credit card companies will show you only one credit score, and no credit report.  I would not call that worthless.

[Straw Man]

Yes, I am sure that I don't work for Credit Karma.  Do you have to work for them to know about them?  Strange that you'd think that.

I don't know all of the ways in which Credit Karma benefits by providing a "free" tax preparation service.  One way they probably do benefit is by looking at your income and then displaying a lot of credit card offers and other ads tailored to your level of income, but that's just a guess.

Credit Karma will show you your free credit scores and your free credit reports from both TransUnion and Equifax.  They offer free credit monitoring too.  Credit card companies will show you only one credit score, and no credit report.  I would not call that worthless.

you sound like a loyal customer and raving fan

how long have you used their service and how have you benefited

[loco]

you sound like a loyal customer and raving fan

how long have you used their service and how have you benefited

Not sure you can call someone who uses a free service a loyal customer.

Whether or not I have used their free services, or for how long is on a "need to know" basis.

Anyone who uses their free services would benefit.  Do you really have to ask how?

[Straw Man]

Not sure you can call someone who uses a free service a loyal customer.

Whether or not I have used their free services, or for how long is on a "need to know" basis.

Anyone who uses their free services would benefit.  Do you really have to ask how?

Only schmucks (no offense) would believe they are getting something for free  from this company.

Sharing your personal financial information is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do

You seem well informed on this service so I'm sure you aware of all the data breaches

[loco]

Only schmucks (no offense) would believe they are getting something for free  from this company.

Sharing your personal financial information is probably one of the most dangerous things you can do

You seem well informed on this service so I'm sure you aware of all the data breaches

Free, in this case, means the user pays zero dollars for the service.  They get their money from ads.  No different than Intuit's Mint and other free budgeting services.

Anyone using TurboTax online, H&R Block, etc. is sharing financial information.   Anyone using online banking is too.

Wait...Straw Man, do you prepare taxes for other people for a living?  If that's on a "need to know" basis, I understand.    

[Straw Man]

Free, in this case, means the user pays zero dollars for the service.  They get their money from ads.  No different than Intuit's Mint and other free budgeting services.

Anyone using TurboTax online, H&R Block, etc. is sharing financial information.   Anyone using online banking is too.

Wait...Straw Man, do you prepare taxes for other people for a living?  If that's on a "need to know" basis, I understand.    

hell no I don't prepare taxes.....including my own

I've had a CPA do my taxes since ~ 1992

[loco]

hell no I don't prepare taxes.....including my own

I've had a CPA do my taxes since ~ 1992

Well if I remember correctly, you've stated before that you own a business.  So that makes sense.

I imagine the average, middle class employee can't afford a CPA to prepare and file his/her taxes every year.

[Straw Man]

Well if I remember correctly, you've stated before that you own a business.  So that makes sense.

I imagine the average, middle class employee can't afford a CPA to prepare and file his/her taxes every year.

I've said I'm self employed

how about you?

I imagine plenty of average middle class people like me use a CPA to prepare their taxes

[loco]

I've said I'm self employed

how about you?

I imagine plenty of average middle class people like me use a CPA to prepare their taxes

Good for you.

That's on a "need to know" basis.

Maybe.  I don't know.  I thought CPA fees for preparing itemized tax returns were expensive, but maybe they're not.

[Straw Man]

Good for you.

That's on a "need to know" basis.

Maybe.  I don't know.  I thought CPA fees for preparing itemized tax returns were expensive, but maybe they're not.

expensive is relative to the complexity and they also provide support in case of an audit (so far has not been an issue for me)

what's the tax filing system like in your country

Does Credit Karma provide that service in your country and if so have you used it?

[loco]

expensive is relative to the complexity and they also provide support in case of an audit (so far has not been an issue for me)

what's the tax filing system like in your country

Does Credit Karma provide that service in your country and if so have you used it?

That's on a "need to know" basis.

[Straw Man]

That's on a "need to know" basis.

 

hmm, let me guess.  You're unemployed and living off a socialist safety net provided by your government so filing a tax return is probably not an issue for you

[loco]

hmm, let me guess.  You're unemployed and living off a socialist safety net provided by your government so filing a tax return is probably not an issue for you

You are awful at guessing.