The problem still remains that they have a number in mind about what I owe and I'm not allowed to know it until I file. Just tell me what I owe and give me the option to approve it. The IRS provides free filing, but if your taxes are complex good luck. If you are the one who prepared them you absorb the liability when the IRS comes after you. The likes of TurboTax are still in favorable positions despite the free option now being available.
> The problem still remains that they have a number in mind about what I owe and I'm not allowed to know it until I file.
They can't. Too much of the tax code is subjective and based upon claimed circumstance. If they did know this, they wouldn't need auditors.
> If you are the one who prepared them you absorb the liability when the IRS comes after you.
The liability is typically just the difference between what you paid and what you owe. It's hard to believe most people are so bad at taxes their efforts would be mistaken for willful criminal fraud.
I'd imagine anyone who can even figure out the various forms needed and what to fill out wouldn't even get far enough to accidentally give the impression of criminal intent. It's less about the money and more about the time cost of login back and forth with the IRS. Three years ago I started a business and my taxes were very complex. LLC filing, HSA and partial savings liquidation, investments, contractors, payroll, and so on. My tax return was 4 months late over $40-something dollars, and they knew exactly what it was they just refused to tell my accountant. So we did the whole "here's what I have, is this what you want" dance. Such a complete waste of resources.
