can't go back

[ceagle]

Unfortunately some items in this day and age Unnecessarily have a Can't Go Back policy..... like some software, once you upgrade it is difficult or impossible to go to the previous version, or with some subscription services if you change them, you can't ever get what you had before.. etc, etc... highly stupid and often frustrating.

The main sticky wicket I wanted to point out in this entry, was that in our state (CA), once you file state taxes electronically, you can't go back ;P .. Well, what if it turns out you didn't like it, or felt like it had less flexibility than the printed version?? ... In any case, it is this insane rule that keeps me filing on paper as long as I can.

I'm a big fan of reducing print whenever possible, but not with "strings attached". In fact, they could go all electronic and require us to print out our own forms and mail them in (which is mostly the case now anyways), but they should not require that you 'have' to always have access to electronic filing.

Feh. ;P

Comments

[hastka.livejournal.com]

A well-matched icon to be sure. :P

And yeah, that is rather silly.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Hopefully they have reversed stance on that program... one of the commenters has suggested it.. yay!

[allaboutweather.livejournal.com]

It's kinda ridiculous since some software "upgrades" are really downgrades.

Speaking of upgrades, California won't be happy until they "upgrade" the tax rates to 100%. DX

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see the sales tax go back to 6% like it was when I was growing up.. or 4% like in some other states.. after all, costs go up, tax revenue should go up -without- the perceptage needing to change... yup!

[allaboutweather.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid that'll never happen. Temporary tax hikes are never temporary. :(

[mondhasen.livejournal.com]

My tax program wants $20 to efile State- so I use the program and follow their paper filing instructions. We actually make above the 'free efile' threshold offered by the State, which is a bunch of hooey. I don't mind so much, but I think efile would be quicker.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Never let them get your money via hooey! *hugs*

[scruff-e-coyote.livejournal.com]

Now that's a very interesting point ya make above Mondhasen. It would make total sense for anyone and everyone no mater their income level who wanted to e-File to simply log on to the federal and state tax collection agency official web sites, use the program to calculate your taxes, then electronically send the results through a safe and secured encrypted medium. On the other hand, it would make even more sense for the tax collection agencies to simply calculate your tax return for you with information they already receive and simply send a bill or a check for overpayment. The reason both aren't an option? When both these ideas have been brought up the many tax preparation and tax software companies lobbied to prevent it!

[scruff-e-coyote.livejournal.com]

When you say ". . . once you file state taxes electronically, you can't go back." do ya really mean to say you can't redo it? I didn't think that was an option anyway for federal or other state tax returns even if you printed out and land-mailed the forms. You can, however, amend any federal or state tax return if you discover a mistake or additional information comes your way. Regardless, I still calculate my own taxes the old fashioned way as well, but type in the forms from the IRS or state tax agency site, then print out the forms, and land-mail them partially for privacy reasons, as those so called free online tax preparation software sites take your private information.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Hullo!
Er, what I mean is, once you use the CA state electronic filing system, you can never go back to filing via paper (as you noted the old fashioned way) again ;P It's in the "fine print" if I recall...

I applaud you for also stickin' to yer guns privacy-and-do-it-yerself-wise also! *hugz in wings*

[scruff-e-coyote.livejournal.com]

Oh, yer referring to the FTB web site's very own online electronic computation and filing system - e-File. What the . . . ? That's crazy that you can never file paper forms after using the e-File system. What would happen, however, if you no longer qualified using it (like I have never been able to) and had to advance to either doing it yerself or with the help of tax preparation software then printing out the forms and mailing them in?

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

If I can find the documentation some time, I'll definitely post it ^v^ ... Good news from another commenter below suggests they may have changed policy.... I did read that in the fine print in a previous year.. I can't find the rule (so far) in the paperwork this year, so maybe I jumped the gun (not knowing they reversed it, hopefully)... it means going thru older tax paperwork and right now just trying to git thru this year's.. eeeep... I hit a new tax bracket when I got a rebate for water conservation activities, and I thought I compensated enough...

[whitetail.livejournal.com]

That must be a new rule. My accountant efiled my state return one year without asking my wishes. I told him next year I want to go back to paper, and he did. Filed by paper ever since. Anyway, screw their 'rules'! Are they really going to refuse a filing that uses their official forms? Somehow I doubt it. Just blowing hot air, I'll wager.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

That's awesome news...! If I can find that documentation I'll quote it... but it was something I read last year or before... who knows, maybe they did actually reverse course! :>

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

I can only wish anyone were interested in what I'd earned. =:)

What happens if you (or H&RB, et al) file now, I wonder? All a bit odd, but then, the US tax code is fairly fundamentally wonky anyway, even aside from the fifty bajillion exemptions that keep tax preparers in business. (None of which applies to the 1%, of course, who can live and not work anywhere they choose. Not that that stops some from blaming immigrants - the lifeblood of the US - for the country's current failings. Rather grimly hilarious, but hardly the first time a politician's tried to lay the blame at the feet of the most powerless)

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

*pip* I used HRB to file my mum's taxes when I had to close out her account...I think they don't lock you in... *fuzzles*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Yeah I agree with you on these Birdo, I tend to always have an older version in a physical form and usually if I have to do some skull duggery to get the old version back on I will do, If I've paid for it I should be able to use it.