If all your taxes are just wages then you just fill out a two page form (1040). Literally just copy a couple of numbers from your w2 and you’re good. The problem is if you have non-salary sources of income (eg stock, non-employee compensation, etc) then things can rapidly become very complicated.
You're right, but I think cycomanic has a point. Why do you even have to fill out the 1040? Why isn't there a default option where you can review tax forms that have already been filled out with the the information the IRS has already received?
That has been proposed. But has been shot down by powerful lobbying groups. One being the tax prep software companies, but another being a conservative group that objects to making paying tax easier because then it will become too easy for the government to just keep raising taxes. The idea is that if you have to file your taxes every year, you have to acknowledge how much you are paying.
