[pm24601]

I know that this may be a shock to technical types here.

Back in the stone age, we filed taxes with paper and pen.

For most people, it really isn't that hard to use paper/pen/envelope/stamp method.

I did this method of filing for decades. Take the time to learn the basics and you will never have to worry about random ass programs.

My tax returns were never "simple" but filling out the forms was not hard - it never took me more than an hour or two.

[invokestatic]

It's not just a technical issue, but also the tax law itself has changed. For example, you used to be able to fill out a 1090-EZ for your taxes if all you had was W-2 income and bank interest. Anyone who meets that criteria could complete it in an hour. But that "EZ" form has been completely removed and replaced with a vastly more complicated one. If your tax situation is just ever so slightly unusual, things get real complicated, real fast.

[pm24601]

Lol. I have never been able to use the EZ version. I have always for a variety of reason used the 1040.

It is in the interests of Intuit to make the tax forms seem so so scary.

In reality, most spots get a 0 entered. Very simple math is involved.

Before you made this comment, did you actually try looking at the 1040 form?

* print out the pdfs * fill out * mail

Takes less time and effort than installing magic software and trying to figure out "wizards"