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1. Embed this notice
   Jon S. von Tetzchner (jon@social.vivaldi.net)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 13:19:48 JST Jon S. von Tetzchner

   Question : Do you know how Norwegians fill out their tax returns?
   Answer : They don´t.

   This is an oversimplification, but years ago Norwegians started to get pre-filled tax returns in the mail. Later they stopped getting them, but instead had to do an OK online. Now even that is not needed. No comment means it is is OK. You can rectify and modify details online, if needed.

   The reality is that the government already had most of the data needed for most individuals. Your salary is reported by the company you work for. Your bank details, including anything you have in your accounts, any loans, stocks, bonds, etc., is reported as well. Your kids are known as well. There might be details to add, but most is known. Why waste people´s time filling out details that are already known and risk people making mistakes?

   When will the US get there?

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   • Embed this notice
     David Lejeune (dkesserich@mastodon.gamedev.place)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:23 JST David Lejeune

     in reply to

     @jon There have been multiple pilot programs along those lines in different states in the US, and the tax prep companies lobbied heavily against them and got any attempt to make it permanent killed.

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     Jon S. von Tetzchner (jon@social.vivaldi.net)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:28 JST Jon S. von Tetzchner

     in reply to

     • David Lejeune

     @DKesserich

     Norway has had the current system for more than 10 years...

   • Embed this notice
     Leeloo (leeloo@techhub.social)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:28 JST Leeloo

     in reply to

     • David Lejeune

     @jon @DKesserich
     I'm surprised that Norway only had the current system for more than 10 years, I'm 47 and my taxes were always prefilled.

     Perhaps you mean online for 10 years? That makes more sense, I barely noticed when we switched from paper to online, because that only changed how I didn't have to do anything. And there was a large overlap, with an additional phone based "press 1 to change your personal income" system as well.

     In 2008 I needed to make a change, and I had the option of doing it online.

     No changes means everything is correct has always been how it worked for me (Denmark).

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   • Embed this notice
     Michael T Babcock (mikebabcock@floss.social)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:31 JST Michael T Babcock

     in reply to

     @jon this is being discussed in #Canada; have the system automatically file your taxes for you and if you think they're going to screw up, you're free to file them yourself (or through a tax preparer) instead.
     Here it means many people who aren't receiving government benefits based on tax filing would suddenly receive them automatically.
     https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/business/2023/3/30/1_6335333.amp.html
     #taxes #government

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     garland (garland@social.seattle.wa.us)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:41 JST garland

     in reply to

     @jon This is not done in the US on purpose. Anti-tax politicians and activists want the process of filling out tax forms to be as painful as possible.

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     Elias Mårtenson (loke@functional.cafe)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:43 JST Elias Mårtenson

     in reply to

     @jon Same here in Singapore. And if you want to make an amendment (like an extra deduction), you can log in to a webpage and fill it in.

     I just checked with an Indian colleague, and it was explained to me that they do it the same way. The employer send the information to the tax authority and everything is handled automatically. India also has different states, and they manage to do it where the US fails.

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   • Embed this notice
     Jon S. von Tetzchner (jon@social.vivaldi.net)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:55 JST Jon S. von Tetzchner

     in reply to

     • Joe B

     @joeblubaugh , the US government knows just as much or even more. The only difference is whether the government tells you what it knows, so you can save time. That is all.

     Instead you fill in any blanks as needed, but for most there are no blanks to fill in. You select to do the standard deductions instead of itemized, and you are done.

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     Joe B (joeblubaugh@hachyderm.io)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:57 JST Joe B

     in reply to

     @jon I'm not terribly comfortable with the idea of the government knowing about literally all of my assets and cash flows. Is that really how it is in Norway?

     I'm fine with the mandatory reporting requirements in the US though (things like capital gains and interest reporting), which is generally enough to fill in a tax return properly, and the USGOV has it.

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     Sean Boyer 🇵🇸 FREE PALESTINE (sb@fed.sbcloud.cc)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:48:59 JST Sean Boyer 🇵🇸 FREE PALESTINE

     in reply to

     @jon
     In Canada, we're literally beholden to tax preparation companies. They built an entire economy around this unnecessary work, and now the government maintains the redundancy at everyone's expense & annoyance.

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     zbrando (zbrando@social.vivaldi.net)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:49:02 JST zbrando

     in reply to

     @jon In Italy you have to fill the papers and it's so complicate (laws change every now and then) that you need the help of a professional. The system is like that because so the government can fine you for your errors and they give job to the accountants. 😩

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     myherozero (myherozero@awaymessage.club)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 15:49:06 JST myherozero

     in reply to

     @jon Never

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     Kit Rhett Aultman (roadriverrail@signs.codes)'s status on Monday, 05-Feb-2024 19:39:37 JST Kit Rhett Aultman

     in reply to

     @jon we could do that, but we won't. First, we have the tax preparation services lobby. Second, we have politicians who want filing taxes to be as uncomfortable as possible because it foments distrust of the government and outrage at the mere idea of taxes.

     That said, for quite some time, a wage earner with a single job and no investment income could file over the phone.