TurboTax
TINA.org, along with the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, National Association of Consumer Advocates, and Professor Rebecca Tushnet, filed an amici curiae brief supporting the FTC in a case against Intuit alleging it misleadingly advertised its TurboTax Free Edition as “free” when it is not free for the majority of U.S. taxpayers, a fact that was not made clear in the marketing.
Timeline
2024
June 21
TINA.org, along with the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, National Association of Consumer Advocates, and Professor Rebecca Tushnet, files an amici curiae brief supporting the FTC and urging the Fifth Circuit to deny Intuit’s petition for review.
January 22
Intuit appeals the FTC final order to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
January 21
The FTC files its final order prohibiting Intuit from claiming a product or service is free unless it’s free for all or it clearly and conspicuously discloses details about who qualifies.
2022
March 28
The FTC issues an administrative complaint against Intuit for, among other things, deceiving consumers by marketing its TurboTax Free Edition as “free” without properly disclosing that most U.S. taxpayers are not eligible to use it.
The Latest
TINA.org Supports FTC’s Ruling against Intuit’s Deceptive Advertising
Intuit should not advertise TurboTax Free Edition without making clear that most people cannot use it.
These Super Bowl LVIII Advertisers Have Been Taken to Court for Deceptive Marketing
Several of this year’s Super Bowl advertisers have run into legal trouble for alleged deceptive marketing.
TINA’s Take: FTC Bars TurboTax Owner from Deceptively Advertising “Free” Tax Prep
It’s not the first time the company has been accused of pulling a bait and switch.
Taxes Shouldn’t Be This Taxing
How tax preparation services may actually make your life harder.
TurboTax Free
Spoiler: Filing your taxes with this product “could cost you money” and those are TurboTax’s words.
Throwing the Red Flag on Super Bowl Claims
The commercials may be funny but don’t be fooled by some of the claims.
Class-Action Tracker
Intuit
Allegations: Misrepresenting that it safeguards consumers’ personal information when it failed to do so and there was a data breach in February 2024
TurboTax’s Free Services
Allegations: Deceptively marketing TurboTax’s free tax filing services