--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans spend about 6 billion hours a…" description: "\"Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year collecting the data and filling out the forms. We spend $10 billion to H&R Block and other preparers. And ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/t-r-reid-18579_block_americans-spend-about-6-billion-hours-a_1342069.jpg" --- # Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year collecting… ![“Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year collecting the data and filling out the forms. We spend $10 billion to H&R Block and other preparers. And on top of that, $2 billion in tax preparation software, which still takes hours of work. It's outrageous the burden we put on people, and guess…” quote by T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/t-r-reid-18579_block_americans-spend-about-6-billion-hours-a_1342069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/t-r-reid-18579_block_americans-spend-about-6-billion-hours-a_1342069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/t-r-reid-18579_block_americans-spend-about-6-billion-hours-a_1342069.jpg) > “Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year collecting the data and filling out the forms. We spend $10 billion to H&R Block and other preparers. And on top of that, $2 billion in tax preparation software, which still takes hours of work. It's outrageous the burden we put on people, and guess what, you go to Europe, you go to Japan, it's 15 minutes and costs nothing.” [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Tax filing consumes massive time and money in the US compared to other nations. **In simple terms:** US tax system is inefficient. Key Takeaway Advocate for streamlined tax processes. Themes tax policy efficiency burden Mood analytical concerned Type policy economic When to use this quote - individual filing - business accounting - government reform - technology adoption Key Concepts public finance administrative cost comparative analysis Questions to Reflect On - How can technology reduce tax filing time? - What reforms could lower costs? A Different Perspective Simplification may face political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-spend-341272/) [Billion Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billion-hours-245203/) [Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Forms Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-spend-4536957/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preparation/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Takes Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-hours-449996/) [Tax Preparation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-preparation-227873/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [Americans spend 3 billion hours per year filling out tax forms and keeping tax records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ramstad/americans-spend-3-billion-hours-per-year-filling-out-tax-forms-and/) [Jim Ramstad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ramstad/) > [Americans spend 6 billion hours a year filling out their tax reforms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/americans-spend-6-billion-hours-a-year-filling-out-their-tax-reforms/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000, they spent more than $110 billion. Americans now spend more money on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/in-1970-americans-spent-about-6-billion-on-fast-food-in-2000-they/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [If you aren't talking to your kids about socialism, someone else is. So use car time, dinner time, tax preparation time, and time spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/if-you-aren-t-talking-to-your-kids-about-socialism-someone-else-is-so/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [Reports also suggest that Ernst and Young and other large tax preparation firms are sending tax returns overseas for processing. But the IRS has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-bean/reports-also-suggest-that-ernst-and-young-and-other-large-tax/) [Melissa Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-bean/) > [“Mrs. Turton says that if you lived to be eighty years old, your heart would beat three billion times. I was thinking about that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-benjamin/mrs-turton-says-that-if-you-lived-to-be-eighty-years-old-your-heart/) [Ali Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-benjamin/) > [As a nation, we spent eight billion hours sitting in our cars, waiting for lights to change, for the driver ahead to sneak into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/as-a-nation-we-spent-eight-billion-hours-sitting-in-our-cars-waiting/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) > [Uncontrollable consumerism has become a watchword of our culture despite regular and compelling calls for its end. The United States has more malls than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/uncontrollable-consumerism-has-become-a-watchword-of-our-culture/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [When I work with countries struggling to pay for budgets or finance trade deficits, I reflect on how Americans do not spend a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zoellick/when-i-work-with-countries-struggling-to-pay-for-budgets-or-finance/) [Robert Zoellick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zoellick/) > [Americans spend a lot more money on their cars, especially the older gentlemen who see it as their pride and joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edd-china/americans-spend-a-lot-more-money-on-their-cars-especially-the-older/) [Edd China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edd-china/) > [Americans spend more on beer than they do on books. No wonder their stomachs are bigger than their brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/americans-spend-more-on-beer-than-they-do-on-books-no-wonder-their/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Americans spend much of their adult lives paying taxes in various forms. We should end this practice of paying a tax that is triggered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-dunn/americans-spend-much-of-their-adult-lives-paying-taxes-in-various/) [Jennifer Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-dunn/) > [We have by far the most expensive health system in the world. We spend 50 percent more per person than the next most costly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-sebelius/we-have-by-far-the-most-expensive-health-system-in-the-world-we-spend/) [Kathleen Sebelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-sebelius/) > [At least 25% of the money Americans spend on health care is wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-califano-jr/at-least-25-of-the-money-americans-spend-on-health-care-is-wasted/) [Joseph A. Califano, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-califano-jr/) > [Not everyone can afford to eat well in America, which is a literal shame, but most of us can: Americans spend less than 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/not-everyone-can-afford-to-eat-well-in-america-which-is-a-literal/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## More by T.R. Reid > [We have the most expensive compliance system in the world. The IRS brags that they spend 35 cents for every $100 they collect. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/we-have-the-most-expensive-compliance-system-in-the-world-the-irs/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [President Trump repeatedly says that "America is the highest-taxed country in the world." This is an alternative fact. We pay less in taxes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/president-trump-repeatedly-says-that-america-is-the-highest-taxed/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [The Value-Added Tax, a sales tax that applies at every level of business transactions, is an easy tax for governments to collect, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/the-value-added-tax-a-sales-tax-that-applies-at-every-level-of/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [“When I was traveling the world on my quest, I asked the health ministry of each country how many citizens had declared bankruptcy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/when-i-was-traveling-the-world-on-my-quest-i-asked-the-health/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [When it comes to taxation, Americans are still banging out letters on a typewriter and dropping them in the mail box while everybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/when-it-comes-to-taxation-americans-are-still-banging-out-letters-on/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [If you get rid of all these giveaways and loopholes and deductions and credits, then you can sharply lower the rates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/if-you-get-rid-of-all-these-giveaways-and-loopholes-and-deductions/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [If you ask any economist, they'll tell you all the mortgage interest deduction does is raise the price of the house. So a couple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/if-you-ask-any-economist-they-ll-tell-you-all-the-mortgage-interest/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [It turns out a VAT - a value-added tax - is a very easy tax to collect and a very hard tax to evade.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/it-turns-out-a-vat-a-value-added-tax-is-a-very-easy-tax-to-collect/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [Corporations use all sorts of complex stratagems to move their profits overseas, and thus escape the U.S. income tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/corporations-use-all-sorts-of-complex-stratagems-to-move-their/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [The Value-Added Tax, a sales tax that applies at every level of business transactions, is an easy tax for governments to collect, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/the-value-added-tax-a-sales-tax-that-applies-at-every-level-of-2/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [“But Nikki White was a citizen of the world’s richest country, the United States of America.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/but-nikki-white-was-a-citizen-of-the-world-s-richest-country-the/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [Starting in the '80s or so, after the United States sharply cut its rates, other countries decided they better do it too, and here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/starting-in-the-80s-or-so-after-the-united-states-sharply-cut-its/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [If your employer pays your health insurance, that's not counted as income to you. And any economist would say that's your income, because they'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/if-your-employer-pays-your-health-insurance-that-s-not-counted-as/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [You also get a deduction in America for taking a night school course, growing sugarcane, moving to a new city for a job, replanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/you-also-get-a-deduction-in-america-for-taking-a-night-school-course/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) > [Professor Eric Zolt of UCLA, said to me, "The VAT is such a good idea, mark my words, within five years, the U.S. will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-reid/professor-eric-zolt-of-ucla-said-to-me-the-vat-is-such-a-good-idea/) [T.R. Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-r-reid/) [Explore all 34 T.R. 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They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [Stevie Wonder always smells so good... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/stevie-wonder-always-smells-so-good-i-m-like-a-dea-dog-i-can-smell/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [When it comes to people I love and care about, I may condense the time, but I'm giving them every ounce of my energy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-shetty/when-it-comes-to-people-i-love-and-care-about-i-may-condense-the-time/) [Jay Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-shetty/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... 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Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) [Browse all 1,755 Block quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/block/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Americans spend about 6 billion hours a year collecting the data and filling out the forms. We spend $10 billion to H&R Block and other preparers. And on top of that, $2 billion in tax preparation software, which still takes hours of work. It's outrageous the burden we put on people, and guess what, you go to Europe, you go to Japan, it's 15 minutes and costs nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "T.R. 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