Only in America is filing taxes a multibillion-dollar industry. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~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)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDIxMCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMTBXA255dEIKZbrRc8dlZn40NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Opinion Today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) February 10, 2024 [A white, mostly blank tax document with the name John Doe on it.]
The New York Times [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYmlueWFtaW4tYXBwZWxiYXVtP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) By [Binyamin Appelbaum](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYmlueWFtaW4tYXBwZWxiYXVtP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) Mr. Appelbaum is a member of the editorial board. I did my own taxes for the first few years after graduating from college. I wasnât making much money, I had plenty of free time, and there was something satisfying about filling out the forms. But I havenât done that in a long time. For most of my adult life, like most Americans, I have paid a company every year to help me file my taxes. This has always struck me as odd. Why should we have to pay someone to help us pay the government? But I didnât appreciate the full absurdity until I started learning about the way taxes are paid in the rest of the world. For instance, hereâs a memorable [description](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGJzLm9yZy9uZXdzaG91ci9zaG93L2RyZWFkaW5nLXRheGVzLWNvdW50cmllcy1zaG93LXVzLXRoZXJlcy1hbm90aGVyLXdheT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIxMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2ODMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3ODQzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplutFzx2VmfjQ2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) of the tax filing process for a businessman in the Netherlands: âHe pops a beer, he goes online, the governmentâs filled in every line. If the numbers look right, he clicks OK. It takes 5 minutes.â In Japan, the government sends postcards to taxpayers. If the information is right, thereâs no need to respond. In Sweden some people receive text messages from the government with their basic tax information. Filing is as simple as answering âyes.â Why isnât filing taxes in the United States free and easy, too? I teamed up with the video journalist Johnny Harris to create an [Opinion video](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL2lycy1pbnR1aXQtdGF4LXNlYXNvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) answering that question. We found that the federal government has been trying since the mid-1980s to create an easy online system for paying taxes. The main obstacle? Hereâs a hint: You wonât find H & R Block tax preparation offices on the shopping streets in the Netherlands. There is no Japanese version of TurboTax. Thereâs just the government, doing its job. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE [[Article Image]
Thereâs a Tax Season Villain, and Itâs Not the I.R.S. For decades, American presidents have promised free and easy tax filling. Why have they consistently failed to deliver? By Johnny Harris and Binyamin Appelbaum](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNi9vcGluaW9uL2lycy1pbnR1aXQtdGF4LXNlYXNvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjQwMjEwJnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIxMFcDbnl0QgplutFzx2VmfjQ2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Editorsâ Picks [[People standing in front of a store advertising candy, cigars and soda in the East Village in 1969.] Carl Gossett Jr./The New York Times Guest Essay When Did New Yorkâs Streets Get So Hollow? The city is rewriting its antiquated zoning code. We should seize the chance to create a metropolis of opportunity that evolves with the times. By Cara Eckholm](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL25ldy15b3JrLWVjb25vbXktem9uaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjgzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1Nzg0MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrRc8dlZn40NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[An illustration of a large white cube with two empty chairs in the center. The cube is floating in a black void, and surrounding the cube are layers of transparent cubes outlined in various colors.] Ibrahim Rayintakath David Wallace-Wells American Cities Arenât Doomed After All The urban âdoom loopâ seems to have come to a halt. By David Wallace-Wells](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2NpdGllcy1wYW5kZW1pYy11cmJhbi1kb29tLWxvb3AuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDIxMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTQ2ODMmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTU3ODQzJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplutFzx2VmfjQ2Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[The country singer Toby Keith onstage in a cowboy hat, pointing toward the sky.] Allen Clark/NBC via Getty Images Guest Essay Toby Keith Was an Enigma Wrapped in a Riddle Wrapped in the Flag Heâs best known for a red-state anthem. But he existed in a tradition of country rabble-rousers of all political stripes. By Michael Patrick F. Smith](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wOC9vcGluaW9uL3RvYnkta2VpdGgtY291bnRyeS1tdXNpYy1wYXRyaW90aXNtLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE0NjgzJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE1Nzg0MyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZbrRc8dlZn40NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[An illustration of a two people looking at dating profiles on their phones. One woman wears a peace symbol earring and is looking at the profile of a man wearing a thin blue line flag.] Eleanor Davis Jessica Grose When It Comes to Dating, Ambition Might Matter More Than Politics Toward a grand theory of modern young love. By Jessica Grose](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMi8wNy9vcGluaW9uL2RhdGluZy1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMjEwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNDY4MyZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNTc4NDMmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmW60XPHZWZ-NDZSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnqfjRP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDIxMCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAyMTBXA255dEIKZbrRc8dlZn40NlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) We hope youâve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. 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