As the article makes clear, this is not a unilateral ban on competing with tax prep software companies, but rather a deal (pre-existing but now codified into law) in which the companies agree to provide free tax prep software to low-income taxpayers and in exchange the federal government agrees not to create a competing product.
To me this sounds like a great deal for taxpayers. In exchange for not spending tons of taxpayer money on a project which may or may not turn out well, makers of existing high-quality products agree to voluntarily give free access to it to the majority of taxpayers.
The bill additionally codifies funding for the VITA program which provides free in-person preparation services for low-income taxpayers.
I think this is about as good as the situation can get without actually simplifying our tax code.
To me this sounds like a great deal for taxpayers. In exchange for not spending tons of taxpayer money on a project which may or may not turn out well, makers of existing high-quality products agree to voluntarily give free access to it to the majority of taxpayers.
The bill additionally codifies funding for the VITA program which provides free in-person preparation services for low-income taxpayers.
I think this is about as good as the situation can get without actually simplifying our tax code.