How the Tax Prep Industry Makes You Pay
ProPublica has long detailed how Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, and other companies have worked against making tax preparation easier and less costly.
Intuit Will Pay Millions to Customers Tricked Into Paying for TurboTax
State attorneys general just reached a $141 million settlement with the Silicon Valley juggernaut. Victims will receive up to $90 each.
by Justin Elliott,
Inside TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans From Filing Their Taxes for Free
Using lobbying, the revolving door and “dark pattern” customer tricks, Intuit fended off the government’s attempts to make tax filing free and easy, and created its multi-billion-dollar franchise.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
FTC Orders Maker of TurboTax to Cease “Deceptive” Advertising
The federal agency, after an investigation prompted by ProPublica’s reporting, blasted Intuit for misleading customers about its “free” tax-filing program and directed the company to take specific steps to fix its ads.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
TurboTax Parent Company’s Latest Argument Against Free Tax Filing: It Will Harm Black Taxpayers
Articles published around the country repeat Intuit’s assertion — sometimes almost word for word — that the upcoming IRS pilot program would hurt Black Americans. A researcher whose work is cited by Intuit says the company is misstating her findings.
by Paul Kiel,
The IRS Tiptoes Into Offering Free Online Tax Filing — and Possible Competition With TurboTax
In the wake of ProPublica’s reporting on the misleading tactics of the major tax-prep companies, Congress asked the IRS to examine whether it could offer free filing directly with the tax agency. A new pilot program will test the concept.
by Paul Kiel,
States Prepare to Send Checks to Consumers Tricked Into Paying for TurboTax
A year after a $141 million settlement with Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, that emerged from an investigation sparked by ProPublica’s reporting, 4.4 million customers will receive compensation.
by Paul Kiel,
Inflation Reduction Act Will Require the IRS to Study Free Tax Filing Options
TurboTax maker Intuit has long blocked efforts to create free online tax filing for all, but this sweeping domestic policy bill provides $15 million to investigate how the IRS could implement such a program.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
Intuit Will Pay Millions to Customers Tricked Into Paying for TurboTax
State attorneys general just reached a $141 million settlement with the Silicon Valley juggernaut. Victims will receive up to $90 each.
by Justin Elliott,
FTC Sues to Stop “Deceptive” TurboTax “Free” Ad Campaign
Following an investigation sparked by ProPublica’s coverage, the Federal Trade Commission is asking a federal court for a restraining order barring Intuit from marketing TurboTax as “free.”
by Justin Elliott,
Senate Investigation Criticizes the IRS for Failing to Oversee Free Filing Program
Millions of Americans have spent billions on TurboTax and other tax prep that they shouldn’t have. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations recommends the IRS advertise the free filing option.
by Justin Elliott,
IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax
The changes come after ProPublica’s reporting showed how TurboTax maker Intuit tricked customers into paying for tax prep they could have gotten for free.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
TurboTax Tricked Customers Into Paying to File Taxes. Now Several States Are Investigating It.
ProPublica revealed that TurboTax maker Intuit charged millions of Americans for tax filing services they were eligible to receive for free. Now multiple state attorneys general have opened investigations into the company.
by Justin Elliott,
Congress Scraps Provision to Restrict IRS From Competing With TurboTax
The change comes after ProPublica highlighted the deceptive marketing practices of Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, and other major tax prep companies.
by Justin Elliott,
Senior IRS Leaders Launch Review of Agency’s Partnership With TurboTax and H&R Block
Both the IRS and its inspector general are investigating the partnership with the tax software industry in response to ProPublica’s reporting.
by Justin Elliott,
Elizabeth Warren and Other Senators Call for Refunds and Investigations of TurboTax and H&R Block
In letters to the IRS and the FTC, the senators are seeking inquiries into whether the companies have deceived customers and violated restraint-of-trade laws.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
Updated: If You Paid TurboTax but Make Under $34,000, You Could Get a Refund. Here’s How.
“I just had to mention ProPublica,” one reader said.
by Justin Elliott,
Bill to Limit IRS’ Ability to Offer Free Tax Filing Service Is Getting New Scrutiny
The attention comes after ProPublica reported on the provision.
by Justin Elliott,
TurboTax Maker Intuit Faces Tens of Millions in Fees in a Groundbreaking Legal Battle Over Consumer Fraud
by Justin Elliott,
TurboTax-Maker Intuit Will Leave Free Tax Filing Partnership With IRS
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
TurboTax and H&R Block Used “Unfair and Abusive Practices,” State Regulator Finds
by Justin Elliott,
Millions of Americans Might Not Get Stimulus Checks. Some Might Be Tricked Into Paying TurboTax to Get Theirs.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
TurboTax’s Bid to Buy Free Tax Prep Competitor Might Violate Antitrust Law, Experts Say
by Paul Kiel and Justin Elliott,
TurboTax and Others Charged at Least 14 Million Americans for Tax Prep That Should Have Been Free, Audit Finds
by Paul Kiel and Justin Elliott,
The IRS Tried to Hide Emails That Show Tax Industry Influence Over Free File Program
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
IRS-Funded Review Confirms TurboTax Hid Free Filing From Search Engines, but Says There’s No Need for Major Changes
by Justin Elliott,
Trump’s Tax Law Threatened TurboTax’s Profits. So the Company Started Charging the Disabled, the Unemployed and Students.
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
TurboTax Uses A “Military Discount” to Trick Troops Into Paying to File Their Taxes
by Justin Elliott and Kengo Tsutsumi,
Intuit CEO in Internal Video: Hiding Free TurboTax Was In “Best Interest of Taxpayers”
by Justin Elliott and Lucas Waldron,
Did You Pay to Use TurboTax? Help Us Hold the Tax Prep Industry Accountable.
by Ariana Tobin, Justin Elliott, and Meg Marco,
New York Regulator Launches Investigation Into TurboTax Maker Intuit and H&R Block
by Justin Elliott,
Listen to TurboTax Lie to Get Out of Refunding Overcharged Customers
by Justin Elliott and Meg Marco,
TurboTax and H&R Block Saw Free Tax Filing as a Threat — and Gutted It
by Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel,
Have You Worked at Intuit or Another Tax Prep Company? Know Something About TurboTax? We’d Like to Hear From You.
by Justin Elliott and Ariana Tobin,
Here Are Your Stories of Being Tricked Into Paying by TurboTax. You Often Need the Money.
by Ariana Tobin, Justin Elliott and Meg Marco,
Si le pagó a TurboTax, pero ganó menos de $34,000, podría obtener un reembolso de la siguiente manera.
por Justin Elliott,
Así es como TurboTax lo engañó para que pagara por la declaración de sus impuestos
por Justin Elliott y Lucas Waldron,
Here’s How TurboTax Just Tricked You Into Paying to File Your Taxes
by Justin Elliott and Lucas Waldron,
Congress Is About to Ban the Government From Offering Free Online Tax Filing. Thank TurboTax.
by Justin Elliott,
Why Are Millions Paying Online Tax Preparation Fees When They Don’t Need To?
by Tik Root for ProPublica,
Filing Taxes Could Be Free and Simple. But H&R Block and Intuit Are Still Lobbying Against It.
by Jessica Huseman,
