Do your return in TurboTax next time but before you pay, do the same return on freetaxusa. You will see it’s the same amount if you entered the same information.

The IRS accepts efilings in a prescribed format so that isnt a danger. If you look at a tax transcript produced from efiling vs a paper return, there is no material difference besides the fields related to how they were submitted.

I have no idea how I'd go about looking at an efiling. Does it essentially send a PDF export or does it hit an API and provide the data in a specified format? I could see how it would make sense for a giant government agency to want the equivalent of a PDF to hand off to humans so that it's "just like everything else".

DirectFile wasn’t meant to handle complicated edge cases. Most filers have a w2 and a few 1099s, use the standard deduction, and claim a few common credits (e.g., child and earned-income). They could file for free in a few minutes with directfile.

It’s not an honesty test, it’s a result of how the US income tax system evolved. Originally the IRS had far less data and everyone filed paper returns. For example, it was only in 2008 that Congress required brokers to track and report cost basis on 1099s to cut down on people overstating their basis to decrease their cap gains.

Under Biden, the IRS tried to make w2s and 1099s available. If you log into the IRS website with your information, you can download the w2s and 1099s the Service has in your name.

Antitax activists have fought these steps every step of the way because the less annoying tax filing is, the less people will buy their antitax arguments.

The IRS isn’t captured by these predatory tax preparers, Congress is. The IRS can’t do a lot on data without Congress specifically authorizing it. And the Republican Party is in bed with the antitax activists who are in bed with the tax preparation companies.

Tax account transcripts have been available long before Biden was president.

Use Form 4506-T to request them.

Transcripts are for previous returns. I was saying you can grab the w2 and many of the 1099s the IRS received for you this tax year before you file your return by logging into the IRS website.