The free tax service from the government is run through a VERY creepy company called "id.me" of unknown ownership
invite response
2025 Mar 24, 9:27pm 227 views 20 comments
Comments 1 - 20 of 20 Search these comments
1
Ceffer
2025 Mar 24, 11:02pm
Ceffer
2025 Mar 24, 11:02pm
Did they ask you to send them a selfie in your underwear? This is not good.
2
50de4664cd8ed59077555340c687d684
2025 Mar 24, 11:19pm
The only thing "free" from the gummint is a gas chamber.
3
Misc
2025 Mar 24, 11:19pm
Ceffer says
They offered an extra $100 onto the refund for it.
Did they ask you to send them a selfie in your underwear? This is not good.
They offered an extra $100 onto the refund for it.
4
Ingrid
2025 Mar 25, 8:21am
a friend filed online years ago. after the date, she got a bill for her taxes plus a late fee. They said she had not filed. That was of course the only time she filed like that.
I started to do it once, with about the same result as you - they wanted to know everything about my property (which was paid for so none of their business), and that is where I closed the page. Since then I have been to a local tax person, who is not cheap but at least, I know my taxes will be done properly.
I started to do it once, with about the same result as you - they wanted to know everything about my property (which was paid for so none of their business), and that is where I closed the page. Since then I have been to a local tax person, who is not cheap but at least, I know my taxes will be done properly.
5
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 25, 8:57am
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 25, 8:57am
What's the point? Can't afford $30 for Turbotax or HR Block software? These don't ask for any silly stuff like you described.
6
clambo
2025 Mar 25, 9:18am
What's so fucked up is the IRS can easily calculate many people's taxes themselves; of course I mean most filers.
Many filers 1. just have W2 income 2. claim the standard deduction. Why doesn't the IRS just send them a notice with their refund?
In my case, all of my income is reported to the IRS because it's all 1099s of various flavors, plus social security.
I have always prepared my tax returns, and one advantage is one learns about the tax code while going through the questions.
I like HR Block. It's able to connect to the servers at Vanguard, T.Rowe Price, etc. and fills in the various boxes for me.
Many filers 1. just have W2 income 2. claim the standard deduction. Why doesn't the IRS just send them a notice with their refund?
In my case, all of my income is reported to the IRS because it's all 1099s of various flavors, plus social security.
I have always prepared my tax returns, and one advantage is one learns about the tax code while going through the questions.
I like HR Block. It's able to connect to the servers at Vanguard, T.Rowe Price, etc. and fills in the various boxes for me.
7
Patrick
2025 Mar 25, 9:57am
Patrick
2025 Mar 25, 9:57am
RWSGFY says
I thought it would be more private than having a private company do my taxes, but it looks like I was wrong on that one. It's less private. And sure, why not save the $30?
But I'm going back to TaxHawk. Been using that one for a while and it's fine.
clambo says
True! Why are they asking us to do taxes at all if they can easily to it themselves, and do check your work in theory. There's a good video meme about this somewhere. Here's some of the text from it anyway:
https://x.com/jordan_stratton/status/1118141455061671939
What's the point? Can't afford $30 for Turbotax or HR Block software? These don't ask for any silly stuff like you described.
I thought it would be more private than having a private company do my taxes, but it looks like I was wrong on that one. It's less private. And sure, why not save the $30?
But I'm going back to TaxHawk. Been using that one for a while and it's fine.
clambo says
What's so fucked up is the IRS can easily calculate many people's taxes themselves; of course I mean most filers.
True! Why are they asking us to do taxes at all if they can easily to it themselves, and do check your work in theory. There's a good video meme about this somewhere. Here's some of the text from it anyway:
https://x.com/jordan_stratton/status/1118141455061671939
Government: You owe us money. It’s called taxes.
Me: How much do I owe?
Gov’t: You have to figure that out.
Me: I just pay what I want?
Gov’t: Oh, no we know exactly how much you owe. But you have to guess that number too.
Me: What if I get it wrong?
Gov’t: You go to prison
8
SharkyP
2025 Mar 25, 12:41pm
RWSGFY says
$30.00? more like $100.00 if you own anything.
What's the point? Can't afford $30 for Turbotax or HR Block software? These don't ask for any silly stuff like you described.
$30.00? more like $100.00 if you own anything.
9
stfu
2025 Mar 25, 2:06pm
I've had ID.me for years. It's necessary to get onto irs.gov now and ssa.gov will soon follow (ssa still has an alternate method available).
Since I have had an IP PIN for tax filing purposes that pre-dates the switch to id.me, I have to have access to irs.gov or I have no way to file my taxes electronically.
I agree, it's invasive and makes my accounts less secure.
Since I have had an IP PIN for tax filing purposes that pre-dates the switch to id.me, I have to have access to irs.gov or I have no way to file my taxes electronically.
I agree, it's invasive and makes my accounts less secure.
10
stereotomy
2025 Mar 25, 7:23pm
stereotomy
2025 Mar 25, 7:23pm
Fuck online taxes - It takes me under 60 minutes to fil out my paper tax forms. If they want me to fucking fill out my own taxes, I'll be damned if someone on the other end has to spend at least as much time to "validate" my tax return.
I can't wait for the tariffs and elimination of the IRS. Hopium? Considering that with few exceptions, the developed world is facing certain demographic collapse in the next 20 years, I can bide my time.
I can't wait for the tariffs and elimination of the IRS. Hopium? Considering that with few exceptions, the developed world is facing certain demographic collapse in the next 20 years, I can bide my time.
11
HeadSet
2025 Mar 26, 11:54am
HeadSet
2025 Mar 26, 11:54am
clambo says
Yep. I do the same with TurboTax locally installed. I also do taxes for mom, kid, and a family friend.
I have always prepared my tax returns, and one advantage is one learns about the tax code while going through the questions.
Yep. I do the same with TurboTax locally installed. I also do taxes for mom, kid, and a family friend.
12
HeadSet
2025 Mar 26, 12:01pm
HeadSet
2025 Mar 26, 12:01pm
Patrick says
1. Free labor
2. The IRS will not know info needed for complex returns. For example, Schedule E rents collected and depreciation choices, or 1099 amounts applied to RMDs, etc.
Why are they asking us to do taxes at all if they can easily to it themselves
1. Free labor
2. The IRS will not know info needed for complex returns. For example, Schedule E rents collected and depreciation choices, or 1099 amounts applied to RMDs, etc.
13
Patrick
2025 Mar 26, 5:25pm
Patrick
2025 Mar 26, 5:25pm
I think #2 is proof that the tax code is in need of serious simplification.
A friend once told me that it is the way it is because of many decades of special bills written for special interests.
A friend once told me that it is the way it is because of many decades of special bills written for special interests.
14
PeopleUnited
2025 Mar 26, 6:39pm
PeopleUnited
2025 Mar 26, 6:39pm
stereotomy says
This.
Go down to the library or courthouse, or even just go online and print the forms you need. This is quite satisfying if that makes sense? It is also the most private. And then when you mail them in laugh all the way to the post office thinking of the poor shlub sitting in a dark cubicle in some lonely federal building with a stack of papers just like yours endlessly languishing at his putrid career choice. It warms the heart doesn’t it forcing that miserable being to do actual work? If enough people paper filed it would probably force tax reform as those idiots couldn’t possibly keep up with the paperwork.
Fuck online taxes - It takes me under 60 minutes to fil out my paper tax forms.
This.
Go down to the library or courthouse, or even just go online and print the forms you need. This is quite satisfying if that makes sense? It is also the most private. And then when you mail them in laugh all the way to the post office thinking of the poor shlub sitting in a dark cubicle in some lonely federal building with a stack of papers just like yours endlessly languishing at his putrid career choice. It warms the heart doesn’t it forcing that miserable being to do actual work? If enough people paper filed it would probably force tax reform as those idiots couldn’t possibly keep up with the paperwork.
15
beershrine
2025 Mar 26, 6:39pm
Use OLT these companies are required to provide a free service it works for me and I use to have a complicated return.
16
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 27, 7:29am
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 27, 7:29am
PeopleUnited says
No shlubs are sweating over your paper returns: they have been OCRing them from the time immemorial, so it all goes into the same database as all the electronic submissions. The only shlub sweating and doing legwork is the filer here.
PS. In fact, OCR is the oldest, most mature and refined ML/AI there is. The USPS has been using it to process hand-written addresses since the 60s and IRS have been digitazing paper returns since the 80s. So all this time you were "sticking it to the man" you really weren't. 🤡
stereotomy says
Fuck online taxes - It takes me under 60 minutes to fil out my paper tax forms.
This.
Go down to the library or courthouse, or even just go online and print the forms you need. This is quite satisfying if that makes sense? It is also the most private. And then when you mail them in laugh all the way to the post office thinking of the poor shlub sitting in a dark cubicle in some lonely federal building with a stack of papers just like yours endlessly languishing at his putrid career choice. It warms the heart doesn’t it forcing that miserable being to do actual work? If enough people paper filed it would probably force tax reform as those idiots couldn’t possibly keep up with the paperwork.
No shlubs are sweating over your paper returns: they have been OCRing them from the time immemorial, so it all goes into the same database as all the electronic submissions. The only shlub sweating and doing legwork is the filer here.
PS. In fact, OCR is the oldest, most mature and refined ML/AI there is. The USPS has been using it to process hand-written addresses since the 60s and IRS have been digitazing paper returns since the 80s. So all this time you were "sticking it to the man" you really weren't. 🤡
17
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 31, 7:37am
RWSGFY
2025 Mar 31, 7:37am
This tax-return filing season might be the last time you send payments to the Internal Revenue Service using paper checks, or the last time you receive refunds on paper.
A Trump Administration executive order issued March 25 requires the use of electronic-payment options by late September
18
Maga_Chaos_Monkey
2025 Mar 31, 8:51am
Maga_Chaos_Monkey
2025 Mar 31, 8:51am
Patrick says
I did it a few years ago and regretted it. I didn't know the flash on my camera could become a strobe light of various colors. They claimed I needed to do it (or were convincing enough) to receive a rather large tax refund because I'd way overpaid. About 7K I so not that large but more than typical I guess.
Then id.me wanted a photo of my driver's license, and a photo of me, right now.
I did it a few years ago and regretted it. I didn't know the flash on my camera could become a strobe light of various colors. They claimed I needed to do it (or were convincing enough) to receive a rather large tax refund because I'd way overpaid. About 7K I so not that large but more than typical I guess.
19
stereotomy
2025 Mar 31, 12:18pm
stereotomy
2025 Mar 31, 12:18pm
RWSGFY says
Someone still needs to open the envelope, unfold the papers, remove the staples (yes I do this for Federal), and then lay them flat in the scanner. I hope those clowns got massive numbers of paper cuts doing that.
No shlubs are sweating over your paper returns: they have been OCRing them from the time immemorial, so it all goes into the same database as all the electronic submissions. The only shlub sweating and doing legwork is the filer here.
Someone still needs to open the envelope, unfold the papers, remove the staples (yes I do this for Federal), and then lay them flat in the scanner. I hope those clowns got massive numbers of paper cuts doing that.
20
Eric Holder
2025 Mar 31, 1:06pm
Eric Holder
2025 Mar 31, 1:06pm
stereotomy says
I strongly suspect that shit has been automated long time ago too. Some packages do require human attention but these are probably in low %%, if not under 1%. Besides, if you want government to be more efficient and spend less money, making it hire more people to unpack envelopes kinde defeats the purpose, no?
Someone still needs to open the envelope, unfold the papers, remove the staples (yes I do this for Federal), and then lay them flat in the scanner. I hope those clowns got massive numbers of paper cuts doing that.
I strongly suspect that shit has been automated long time ago too. Some packages do require human attention but these are probably in low %%, if not under 1%. Besides, if you want government to be more efficient and spend less money, making it hire more people to unpack envelopes kinde defeats the purpose, no?
I was a bit suspicious when the IRS site said "First, we'll take you to ID.me to sign in or create an account." Huh, why can't the IRS make my account themselves?
But I went with it, gave my email to the id.me website, and set a password.
Then id.me wanted my phone number, and to confirm I owned it by texting me. Did that, but felt uncomfortable about it.
Then id.me wanted a photo of my driver's license, and a photo of me, right now. Uh, no. I started to read the fine print:
Wait, what third party partners? They are already a second party to the IRS. So I decided to look them up and see who owns them:
McLean is where the really sleazy NSA types are. What's the game here? A private company of former spooks spying on Americans?