Australia's 'e-tax' Windows Only

Kinky Bass Junk writes "As the need to submit tax returns is looming, notification emails are sent out to users of the tax office's services. This year, the Australia Tax Office (ATO) is using a web-based tax return system, as well as the traditional paper based systems. The e-tax website has all the details, and the requirements of the software stand out: 'e-tax is not compatible with Linux or Apple Macintosh computers. However, if you have suitable Windows Emulator software installed, you may be able to use e-tax.' Here is a protest email I have set up for those who disagree with this."

Comments

Taxes windows only?

[no-one-important]

I was hoping that was a tax on windows... oh well.

Re:Taxes windows only?

[iTristan]

And as I recall, the Canadian govt apps also had its Windows bias at first. Ontario had a similar issue when I used their provincial business site. Then, interestingly enough, they were all head-slapped by some monitoring agency for being "discriminatory" against non-Windows users. Of course, being considered discriminatory is a huge deal in Canada, so everyone quickly jumped in line and fixed up their apps. And you know what? They work really well now. Who'd have thought? Democracy working? Crazy. Wait! There's a pig flying!!!!

Re:Taxes windows only?

[rcamera]

i'm still waiting for wine to be available for windows... any idea if this is coming any time soon?

Tax on Windows users

[Colonel Panic]

Perhaps this is a tax on Windows users. Linux & Mac users need not worry about paying it.

Re:Tax on Windows users

[Mattcelt]

Geez, you'd think that would be taxing enough!

Erm... I wish:

[Cantide]

"Sorry, I can't pay my taxes, I run OS/2"

Re:Editors please check links

[flyingsquid]

The protest email is a 404. You would think the editors would actually check thier links. But no, they can't even do that.

Oh, quit complaining how bad the editors are! I have complete confidence they'll have this fixed by the time the article is reposted as a dupe.

Re:404

[Codester]

Nah, it's probably only compatible with internet explorer! ^_^

Actually, they typo'd

[jd]

They're really talking about sharp, pointy tacks, to remind users of the hell they are in.

Re:I'm glad to live in Austria

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm not too disappointed with the windows only tax program. What irritates me is when I try to choose Australian as my language in software installers, only to have my desktop displayed in leederhosen.

Re:Lighetn up

[Anonymous Coward]

Um...did you even read the title of the article?

Hint: That first word in the article's title refers to a nation that you may have heard of, if only because of kangaroos and Paul Hogan.

Re:404 Fixed

[xlr8ed]

Give it a few minutes, and it's not going to matter...

Re:Give me a break

[The Bubble]

You only have time to get a single version of the client ready so which OS do you support first?

I can see it now:

Online tax form application released; compatible only with 100% GNU/Linux based operating systems. Millions of citizens switch to Linux overnight to file taxes. BSD and Solaris form a coalition alledging that governments are monopolies. Microsoft takes the government to court, citing their patents for "an online system by which choice of operating system is passively forced."

In a related story, a record ten million new users join slashdot in an effort to "sh0 d3r 1337 sk1||z"

The future is bright indeed.

Re:This is not a new thing.

[Anonymous Coward]

This is slashdot... nobody pays for software.

Re:Give us the source

[rich_r]

Look, to the right of the 'submit' button! It's a 'preview' button. it lets you see that your post will be an unreadable rant before you make it live.