Why does it have to be this confusing

well, there's always the extension (as if it'll be any less confusing six months from now)

There's an AstroTurf movement trying to prevent a simplification of the system. The government sends you your taxes completed, and you can approve or make changes. The choice is up to you. The makers of TurboTax are saying this will hurt low income Americans (as if their taxes are complex), and as if they don't make millions off of them already.