Submitted by scubastefon t3_1223v2j in jerseycity
I New York, you don't need to pay to e-file a return, but for NJ you do. It's pretty absurd given that e-file is a more straightforward way for every part involved, the individual, the state, the banks. it's a win-win-win. this totally smells like one of those situations where Intuit has managed to capture the NJ legislature.
pixel_of_moral_decay t1_jdorh9j wrote
I just put a stamp on an envelope and mail it in.
Tax processing is also a jobs program for many states. Getting rid of it from a politicians perspective is a negative since it eliminates a government jobs that serve predominantly lower income workers. There's not much skill it's basically scanning and handling processing machines, it's a basic data entry job. It also happens to be during a critical time of the year jobs wise. There's a gap between the winter surge in labor demand and the summer surge in labor demands tax season nicely fills.
I'd rather just e-file if it were free, but I absolutely wouldn't pay more than a postage stamp for the ability.
What's silly is e-filing is still not instant. There's an artificial delay injected in there, even though something like 99% of returns are processed instantly. For the vast majority of people they have all the info before you even send it in.
Which raises the point: for most people the whole process shouldn't be necessary, you should just get a statement and file if you have a disagreement/something to add.