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Comment by dlcarrier

20 hours ago

The form that you fill out has a very tearse description of the field, but the actual instructions are in a separate document. For example, form 1040 is here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf and the instructions document is here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf

The instructions make it very clear when a field in the form should be used and what should go in it.

5 comments

dlcarrier

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_vertigo  19 hours ago

Yes, obviously, everyone knows that. When all you have to file is a 1040, reading one of the instructions documents is fine. When you have to use several forms it start to add up.

  • anon291  17 hours ago

    I've filed my own taxes for years and have a complicated set up; real estate, stocks, rsus, espps, private shares, amt, etc ... It's extremely straightforward and takes less time than using turbotax if you've done it before. The instructions are obvious.

    You can also call the IRS and be told for free what the rules are. People pay h&r block and Intuit when the irs is extremely responsive and will connect you with an actual American irs rep to answer your questions.

    People pay for the software because they've been marketed to not because they need it. For the situations that are actually hard, then a software like TurboTax is useless.

    Also if you get the numbers wrong the IRS just corrects it

  • simoncion  18 hours ago

    > Yes, obviously, everyone knows that.

    It's pretty clear that daemonologist did not know that. Which is weird, given that all the tax law the average USian needs to know is "Read and follow the instructions for Form 1040.".

    (RIP 1040-EZ. You were a good form.)

    Also, I've had to file several forms in the past. It 'adds up', but it's all mechanically following instructions... not anything difficult.