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0 pointsLordDragonfang2y ago0 comments

>They should just give you an itemized breakdown and ask if it's correct.

I'm sorry, but this response comes up every time, and every time the answer is "yes, that's why I said you should be able to just tell them it's correct." It doesn't have to be any more difficult than checking a box.

90% of people are just going to use the standard deduction (no, seriously: in 2019 it was 87.3%[1]), and for most people their filing status will only change a handful of times in their lifetime. It makes no sense to waste everyone else's time for what should be at most 3 or 4 yes-or-no questions.

[1] https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-tax-stats-at-a-...

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frumper2y ago

It's very reasonable to take the standard deduction with other deductions and credits. The standard deduction only replaces some of them.

edit: It's also possible you file before things are reported to the IRS about you.

LordDragonfangOP2y ago

And in each case those additional deductions apply to a small minority of people, and they are often things the IRS can probably already know. All of which you can choose to add with a question or two. You're missing the point, though - the IRS already has 90% of my data. Under no circumstances should I be having to re-enter my W-2, a document they already have on file, and stress about making errors in data entry.