This kind of take is only true if you haven't given the tax system any thought at all and just want to dunk on the IRS to get upvotes
The govt only has an idea of what you might owe from "official" information (W2s), Since we don't live in a totalitarian society where the govt knows everything about you.
Filing taxes is the govt telling you to make sure to report anything they do not know about.
Also you do not go to jail for getting your taxes wrong, you go to jail if you fail to fix them after being audited or fraud.
The govt only has an idea of what you might owe from "official" information (W2s), Since we don't live in a totalitarian society where the govt knows everything about you.
Filing taxes is the govt telling you to make sure to report anything they do not know about.
Also you do not go to jail for getting your taxes wrong, you go to jail if you fail to fix them after being audited or fraud.