• some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      They don’t make enough to itemize in the first place, they’ll just take the standard deduction. (Unless they lost like $20k on scratchers somehow)

      • Pyr@lemmy.ca
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        15 hours ago

        I’m always terrified to write stuff off because I fear I will accidentally write something off that I’m not really allowed to due to some obscure legalese and then I will get audited in 5 five years and owe 10 grand in late fees and interest or some shit.

        • AA5B@lemmy.world
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          4 hours ago

          It’s not too bad as long as you’re not a dick about it. One year I marked myself as head of household instead of single. I’m not even sure why I did it. I only thought “huh, this saved a lot on my taxes”, and really had no idea what I was doing. They sent back a correction and how much i owed. I paid and that was it. Not scary at all.

          Of course in today’s world all about spite and punishment I could imagine it being much worse

          • BeeegScaaawyCripple@lemmy.world
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            3 hours ago

            Yeah, I’m a sane world you just get a letter explaining where they think you made a mistake, and you can either pay the difference or provide evidence your position is correct. All done by mail.

          • Delphia@lemmy.world
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            4 hours ago

            In most countries for average people if you can make a convincing argument about why you thought it would be allowed and can argue it with a straight face they arent interested in nailing you over it because it isnt worth their time.

            I asked my accountant “Hey, when I take sick leave at work and I have to get a doctors certificate to get paid for those days, does that make the doctors visit a work expense?”

            He said “Thats a legitimate enough argument that if you want me to I’ll put them on your return. Dont know if it would pass an audit but the reasoning is solid”

    • Hathaway@lemmy.zip
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      15 hours ago

      It’s not hard to file taxes. Especially for an individual, with a normal W2 income, and not much else. Certain people try to make it hard, but it’s not.

      I don’t need to pay someone to put a number on a form.

      • toddestan@lemmy.world
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        15 hours ago

        Most poor people probably just take the standard deduction anyway. It’s not like they have enough money to accumulate a large amount of deductible expenses anyway. Possible exceptions might be large medical expenses or a mortgage.