Really enjoyed the multi-part/multi-file tutorial for the fact-graph, a seemingly core component that I saw referenced in a couple places.
> Take a look at [Form 1040][1]. Line 12c asks the taxpayer to add lines 12a and 12b. This is a common pattern on tax forms. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040.pdf
> There is a relationship betwen lines 12a, 12b, and 12c. In order to know what should be entered in 12c, we need to first know the values of 12a and 12b.
> This pattern might remind you of a spreadsheet. If we were to transcribe Form 1040 into Excel, we might imagine that line 12c would be a formula like =SUM(Line12A,Line12B). Excel spreadsheets are _declarative_, which is to say we define the relationships between cells using formulas, but we leave it up to Excel to determine how to solve the spreadsheet.
This is their data-relational langage.
https://github.com/IRS-Public/direct-file/blob/main/direct-f...
Anyone know the story behind the release of this repo? It doesn't look like an official IRS organization account.
I bumped into this thread after reading this article today. Makes no sense to post again on HN, but I'll post it here.
https://www.404media.co/directfile-open-source-irs-tax-filin...
Nice initiative to see this code on github.
Direct File is a service from the United States Government that provides taxpayers the option to electronically file their federal tax return for free, directly with the IRS. The currently proposed budget bill supported by President Trump would end this service.
Regardless of its fate, it's open sourced. It can now be forked and made better in far less time.
This looks like code to run the Direct File service. Is it useful to run it yourself?
Is there some reason we can't just take the PDF forms, script them so they assist the filer, and then allow a form of digital attestation and filing?
What more needs to be done?
Additional limitations if your household wages are more than $125,000
You can’t use Direct File if:
If your wages are more than $200,000 ($168,600 if you had more than one employer).
You file as Married Filing Jointly, and your spouse’s wages are more than $200,000 ($168,600 if your spouse had more than one employer).
You file as Married Filing Jointly, and you and your spouse's wages are more than $250,000.
You file as Married Filing Separately, and your wages are more than $125,000.
I forgot how much I dislike the boilerplate verbosity of Java
I know a number of people who are now using https://www.freetaxusa.com/ to file their taxes for free, but I've been hesitant to. Does anyone know offhand if they're actually trustworthy?