In 2023, a chaotic year marked by significant life changes, including job transitions and the arrival of a second child, I received an unexpected and distressing notice from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The letter, boldly underscored, stated that my tax return did not match their records. Upon close inspection, I realized I had overlooked reporting half a year's salary from my work at Business Insider. This mistake, while shocking, is surprisingly common. Gregor Wöhrn, a seasoned accountant we've collaborated with for a decade, reassured me that such oversights are frequent, and the IRS sends approximately 1.7 million notices annually due to inaccuracies in tax returns. The issue of inaccurate or incomplete tax returns is not limited to individual taxpayers; even tax professionals can fall prey to such errors. Richard Lamper, a retired accountant, admitted to once forgetting to attach his W2 form. These errors highlight a systemic problem where the current U.S. tax system remains cumbersome and prone to mistakes, despite technological advancements. In contrast, countries like New Zealand and Japan have streamlined their tax processes through automation. New Zealand's system allows taxpayers to log in, confirm pre-filled amounts, and submit their returns easily. Japan uses mailed postcards with government-calculated tax amounts, which taxpayers can either accept or dispute. Such systems reduce taxpayer burden and increase government revenue. Back in 2005, Stanford University law professor Joseph Bankman, the father of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, introduced a pilot project called ReadyReturn. This initiative provided pre-filled tax returns to single-income taxpayers, using government data. The project was highly successful, with 99% of participants expressing satisfaction. However, it faced significant opposition from large tax preparation companies, which lobbied to prevent its widespread adoption. These companies prefer to maintain a dependency on their fee-based DIY software rather than allowing free, automated tax returns provided by the government. Today, the U.S. tax system remains complex and error-prone. According to research by the Treasury Department and Dartmouth College economists, almost half of all tax returns could be processed automatically by the IRS without significant issue. Despite this, automation has not been widely implemented. During this tax season, Elon Musk and the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently announced layoffs, including IRS staff responsible for technology modernization and customer support. The average American spends about nine hours on tax preparation, totaling over 79 billion hours annually—a significant drain on productivity and personal time. Our IRS notice required us to verify the discrepancy between our reported income and our actual earnings. Although this verification was straightforward, IRS processing times have been severely impacted by the pandemic, with some taxpayers receiving bills up to 18 months after filing. We were advised by our accountant to immediately file an amended return and pay the additional taxes, penalties, and interest. This amounted to a total of $10,102, including approximately $1,000 in penalties and interest. The entire process was frustrating, especially given the advanced technological capabilities available today. The failure of IRS Direct File, a free tax filing system, further underscores the challenges faced by the U.S. in modernizing its tax process. Launched with the aim of simplifying tax filing and reducing fees paid to commercial software companies, Direct File was met with criticism for high costs, technical issues, and lack of user-friendly design. According to a Treasury Department official, Direct File is considered a failed project, used by only a small fraction of taxpayers. Sam Corcos, a DOGE official, also suggested that the system should be shut down. This decision has disappointed many who saw Direct File as a symbol of DOGE's commitment to technological innovation. IRS employees, returning to the office, have reported low morale and inefficiencies. They face challenges such as unstable internet connections and paper-based processes, which hinder their ability to handle the high volume of tax-related inquiries and tasks. An IRS employee candidly stated, "People's spirits are low, and this affects productivity." The failed Direct File project highlights several key issues in governmental technology initiatives. Despite the potential benefits, including simplifying the tax process and increasing transparency, the project was plagued by technical problems and high implementation costs. The Treasury Department's senior officials noted that user interface unfriendliness and frequent system outages were significant contributors to its underutilization. The market's response to Direct File suggests that while the concept has merit, it did not resonate with the majority of taxpayers. Many prefer the familiar and trusted commercial tax preparation software, which may explain the low adoption rate. However, the project's initial goal of supporting low-income families remains an important consideration. Industry insiders emphasize that the failure of Direct File does not diminish the need for improvements in the U.S. tax system. Automation and user-centric design are critical for reducing errors and enhancing efficiency. As人民政府的方法（Government Efficiencies and Operations, 简称DOGE）继续探索新的技术解决方案，其他项目仍在为纳税人提供便利，尽管面临着诸如数据安全和用户隐私等挑战，自动化报税的潜力依然值得重视。 --- In summary, the U.S. tax system's complexity and the recent failure of IRS Direct File highlight the urgent need for technological innovation. While commercial tax preparation software companies benefit from the current system, automated solutions like those in New Zealand and Japan could significantly reduce the burden on taxpayers and increase government revenue. The frustration and inefficiencies experienced by both taxpayers and IRS employees underscore the potential benefits of a more streamlined and user-friendly tax process. Technological leaders, including those in government, should continue to pursue innovative solutions to improve the tax filing experience for all Americans. DOGE, an organization dedicated to enhancing government efficiency through technology, must navigate the challenges of data security and user adoption to successfully implement such solutions. The failure of Direct File serves as a valuable lesson, but the core issues it aimed to address remain critical and warrant further attention.