1 pointby johsole6 hours ago4 comments
  • kazinator5 hours ago
    Nope; I use a Lisp thing I made myself. You model the tax return form fields using the macro language. They are linked together reactively like cells in a spreadsheet with dynamic updates and history viewing; e.g. if you change some value, you can see how it impacted every single field, so you can optimize registered retirement fund contributions and such.

    I've not had a mistake flagged on my returns for the past bunch of years thanks to this, so I'm sticking to it.

    The only problem is the yearly churn. I begin by copying last year's document (basically a Lisp file defining fields and their values). This has to be edited not just for values but for changes in the tax return form.

    The form fields are tagged with a section symbol, which corresponds to the document; I can produce a report which basically indicates what to fill where in the paper form.

    I could integrate that with electronic filing; the Canada Revenue Agency has some sort of program you register to gain access to that. (This is distinct from the "e-file" system for online filing for individuals that I don't use.) I likely won't because I believe in the paper forms. I did the work to figure out the taxes, someone should open an envelope and read handwriting

    This system actually reduces the filing because I can skip the various field copying and intermediate calculations, focusing on just getting the data into the "payload" fields. It's the least time-consuming part of the process to the point where I have a sense that I'm done when the numbers are prepared, and the rest is just scribbling (cue scene from 1980s Amadeus movie). Especially that since I double check the figures, and the calculations are done by machine, I never have to do the entry twice.

    Now, if something comes up in the tax code affecting me, I'm going to ask AI. E.g. "am I eligible to claim such and such". No to actually manipulate figures for me or fill something. I check every hallucination to actual documentation from the government.

  • NeuraCryption6 hours ago
    AI has a lot of potential but trusting it with my taxes? Its a big NO. I want to make sure that someone takes accountability if anything goes wrong.
  • 2176 hours ago
    Did this last year and models were already almost good enough to do this without me checking the results, i still did though, and still saved many hours.

    This year with such vast capability jumps it's not even a question

  • spottedmarley5 hours ago
    No, but I do look forward to all the stories of people who did. Should be interesting