Turbotax free can be a great way to get the tax filing process done without spending a lot of money. You can even receive unlimited access to tax professionals if you choose. However, there is a small problem. There are several reasons you might not be able to file your taxes through this program. Here are a few of them:
Unlimited access to tax experts
Aside from the abovetest-materna, there’s no shortage of gizmos to ogle. Fortunately, Intuit’s top dogs have a penchant for curation, a trait that translates into some high-tech delights for the lucky few. With a few clicks of the keyboard, you can be in and out of the IRS nexus in no time flat. The best part is that you get to do it in a manner of your choosing. It’s like having your CPA on speed dial. So, what are you waiting for? You get a tax preparer and CPA in one. Oh, and the perks. No more schlepping your tax documents around. Best of all, you have a fun time while doing it! Hopefully, your tax preparer is also a high-octane prankster, which is a great thing to have in the first place!
Refund guarantee
The best way to go about it is by eschewing the IRS for a more personalized approach. Instead, you can enlist the help of a friend or family member to file your taxes on your behalf. A small fee of $39 will get the job done. For an additional $1 per hour, you can opt for a consultative tax specialist. This is a small price to pay for a significant tax rebate. The best part is that you can choose your schedule and pick the brains of your tax preparer. Having someone to talk to may be the elixir you need to find the answers to those tough questions. Besides, you’ll have more time to ponder your next tax decision, which equates to a more favorable outcome.
Intuit deceived low-income Americans out of free filing services
Intuit has been accused of misleading millions of low-income Americans out of free Turbotax filing services. A federal agency, the Federal Trade Commission, is suing the company to stop false advertising.
The agency is accusing Intuit of using “free, free, free” advertisements to lure consumers into paying for tax preparation. ProPublica, a news organization, investigated Intuit’s practices and found that Intuit purposefully steered consumers away from free services.
Intuit intentionally concealed information about its “free” tax preparation services from customers and search engines using dark patterns. It then rerouted eligible taxpayers to its paid product.
Intuit has agreed to pay $141 million to consumers. This will be divided among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Intuit will suspend its “free, free, free” advertising campaign as part of the deal.
Intuit intentionally hid Free File from Google results
Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, has been using deceptive marketing tactics to push consumers toward paying for the paid version of the tax software. This violates the FTC Act, which prohibits misleading or deceptive advertising.
The Federal Trade Commission filed an administrative complaint against Intuit for violating the law. In addition, the FTC has requested that a federal court order the company to stop its deceptive advertising.
ProPublica, a non-profit investigative journalism organization, published a story on Intuit in April. It showed that the company hid its Free File product from Google search results.
ProPublica found that the company had been using deceptive trade practices and intentionally blocked the IRS Free File landing page from Google results. This tactic effectively shuts out free tax filing for many eligible consumers.
Intuit will reform its business practices.
Intuit, makers of the popular tax preparation software TurboTax, will reform its business practices. The company has agreed to a multi-state settlement. As part of the deal, the company will also re-tool its products better to inform users about their eligibility for free tax filing.
A multi-state investigation uncovered several misguided and misleading claims made by the company. One example is that TurboTax charges consumers to use its services. The company’s e-mail marketing campaigns encouraged consumers to use its products despite this.
Intuit will pay out $141 million in restitution to customers as part of its settlement. This includes 4.4 million taxpayers who used the software’s Free Edition version of its tax preparation product. Some states, such as Tennessee, even receive a small sum from Intuit.
