[0xcde4c3db]

Being in bed with tax preparation companies is probably the main thing, but I also vaguely recall a statement by someone years ago (perhaps Grover Norquist or Dick Armey) that filing tax returns should be kept annoying simply for the sake of keeping people angry about taxes in general.

[robocat]

> filing tax returns should be kept annoying

That's just plain stupid. Taxes are already annoying enough.

In New Zealand the government makes it really really simple to pay your taxes (automated tax returns for the majority). You can call our tax department on the phone and they answer and they are helpful and they don't seem to screw you. The idea is to make it simple for people and businesses to pay their taxes so that they pay. The IRD is run like a smart business.

[saagarjha]

Unfortunately a lot of things are just plain stupid.

[pbhjpbhj]

Because paying to build society and help those around you to a better life through shared resources is something you should be angry about?

It's not taxes that are the problem per se it's fuckwits like Boris Johnson's cronies that think taxes are theirs to garnish and use any chance, even a global pandemic, to steal every dime they can lay their hands on.

[coldtea]

>Because paying to build society and help those around you to a better life through shared resources is something you should be angry about?

No, but paying an exorbitant amount, but seeing few things being improved around you, but endless wars funded and cronies getting richer, and useless bureucracy enlarged and making your life or business more difficult, is.

[DangitBobby]

That works until people learn the correct targets to direct their anger.