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Where I list dependent & relationship, I've always listed "child". TurboTax offers only son/daughter. Why? Are they stealing extra data to sell to marketers?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 1, 2019
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TurboTax Self Employed Online

Best answer by Devin11_2

I've worked on the interview questions of TurboTax for close to a decade. The reason we sometimes ask questions that specify gender, such as the son or daughter question, is very simple. We often have to ask follow up questions that refer back to a person mentioned in an earlier response, and it's much easier and feels more personal if those questions are framed using pronouns like he/she/his/hers/etc. If we keep using the child's name over and over, or resort to non-gender-specific pronouns like "they", then the language of the follow up questions starts to sound very unnatural, and possibly even confusing (is "they" referring to all my kids?).

Marketing never even entered our mind as a consideration. Even if it had, there are extraordinarily strict rules imposed on tax software companies by the Treasury Department to prevent tax data from being used for any purpose other than preparing the tax return. We wouldn't jeopardize a very successful and honest business by running afoul of Treasury rules. And even without those rules in place, our business model is based on charging a fair price to the customer, not luring people in with give-aways and then selling your data to third parties.

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Devin11_2Answer

Employee

I've worked on the interview questions of TurboTax for close to a decade. The reason we sometimes ask questions that specify gender, such as the son or daughter question, is very simple. We often have to ask follow up questions that refer back to a person mentioned in an earlier response, and it's much easier and feels more personal if those questions are framed using pronouns like he/she/his/hers/etc. If we keep using the child's name over and over, or resort to non-gender-specific pronouns like "they", then the language of the follow up questions starts to sound very unnatural, and possibly even confusing (is "they" referring to all my kids?).

Marketing never even entered our mind as a consideration. Even if it had, there are extraordinarily strict rules imposed on tax software companies by the Treasury Department to prevent tax data from being used for any purpose other than preparing the tax return. We wouldn't jeopardize a very successful and honest business by running afoul of Treasury rules. And even without those rules in place, our business model is based on charging a fair price to the customer, not luring people in with give-aways and then selling your data to third parties.

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DMensch

There are now millions of children in the United States who do not identify as male or female, but as non-binary, gender fluid, etc. Forcing a choice between son and daughter, if it is not necessary for the IRS forms, feels hostile to the parents of those kids, including me. I would much rather see the name repeated than be forced to choose a pronoun that does not actually fit my child.

Hal_Al

Employee

It's always been that way. The first screen (relationship) asks child or someone else. After you select child, the next screen ask son or daughter.

Check your past year(s) form 1040 or 1040A. Line 6c, column (3) says son or daughter, not child.

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xmatthewxAuthor

That is not correct. My past returns say child, not son or daughter as you suggest. I previously filed my returns without TurboTax. Whether is has been that way before with TurboTax isn't really relevant. There is nothing on the tax form or instructions that says son/daughter distinction is required. But that info is very valuable when you business sells data insights.

And, there are lots of instances were those options would be incorrect. For example, if you became the legal guardian for your nephew, they might be your dependent but they are not your son.