| Art Alexion on 18 Mar 2008 10:17:24 -0700 |
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On Monday 17 March 2008 15:28:40 Gabriel Sean Farrell wrote: > I bet there's a > business model that could produce open-source tax software. Something > with a focus on related services, maybe? Or it could be maintained by > the government, or a non-profit association of accountants. From an off-list reply I made to Matthew: > There is one scenario that would work, but it requires government > assistance which isn't likely in the US. The IRS could publish tax "rules" > in an open format which can be imported into any engine. There could then > be proprietary and open engines with different interfaces, printing, etc. > > But I don't see a community supported project that has to almost totally > rewrite the program every year under the guidance of accountants or tax > attorneys, and then issue patches every time a new regulation, form change, > rebate, economic stimulus package, energy bill, etc., went into effect. > Anything less really wouldn't be usable. > > I can see it happening in Europe where governments have been more open to > open source, but not here. Your are right. "Never" was poorly chosen, but > "highly unlikely in my lifetime" is probably about right. Attachment:
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