(Update 5/10/23: Checks are soon going out, per CNN)
TurboTax from Intuit has agreed to pay out $141 million to millions of customers who used the ‘free’ filing service, yet ended up having to pay for the service. The settlement affects 4.4 million customers who should receive about $30 per year filed.
The agreement revolves around the claim that TurboTax was misleading in advertising their product as free, and then upcharging for more complicated returns. Many low-income taxpayers could have filed free with the IRS free filing tool, yet were not free under the TurboTax limitations to their free filing program.
TurboTax has agreed to better inform customers on whether they’ll get the free filing, along with other changes.
Customers who could have filed free with the IRS filing program – but were not free with the TurboTax free program – are the ones eligible for payment under this agreement. Intuit will pay out to around 4.4 million customers who used the free edition during tax years 2016, 2017, 2018.
You’ll get a check in the mail for the agreed-upon amount. This is not a class lawsuit and you don’t need to file anything in order to get the check, it’ll come automatically.
ABCNews: “IRS moves forward with free e-filing system in pilot program to launch in 2024” (May 16, 2023)
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/irs-moves-forward-free-filing-system-pilot-program-99372451
Hal-le-frickin-lu-jah! 😀
https://www.npr DOT org/2023/05/16/1176417594/irs-taxes-filing-turbotax-intuit-tax-prep
Oh nice.
I got $29 and I spent $150 to file.
Definitely will stop them from doing it again (not)
Use freetaxusa please. Don’t give those lobbying asshats any money
Hopefully in my lifetime income taxes will be constitutionally abolished, putting these crooks out of business.
I don’t have hope of that. I just have a different hope.
My hope is they will not abolish IRS and privatize the taxation and take over the taxation by charging the government to levy the taxes. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens and they’ll send hired goons to take the tax money if someone can’t pay.
that’ll add another layer of “taxes” and “fees” that you’ll have to pay. Who’s gonna pay for the goons and their managers?
Elementary my dear, it’ll be paid by all the rich folks who’ll never pay taxes.
There may be some primitive, parasitic societies in which individuals do not have to finance their privileges, but I don’t know of any right off hand.
Meanwhile try to avoid availing yourself of tax-paid accessories like:
clear water, safe food, our city, county, state and federal parks and national forests, airports, highways, police, public schools, sewage systems, research and regulations to improve health, Voting and other freedoms, the military (ours is bigger than the next ten biggest), emergency services during floods and fires, aid to many of your ‘homelands’ (I’m totally against this), immigration. If you want to be a parasite, or live like an animal, there may be a few places left to go.
Half the shit you listed isn’t run by the federal gov’t and funded by local, county, and state governments.
Also, the US didn’t have an income tax until the early 20th century, and was able to fund much of it just fine.
Over here, in the USA, we pay taxes at all those levels.
I imagine you swiveling your head up and around yourself looking at all the ‘progress’. My. My. My.
Well it wasn’t magic.
Everything you around you required Work. Also Thievery, Labor, Raw Materials, Slavery, Death, Blood, Sweat, Tears.
If only you weren’t so oblivious to the extreme grift that happens the higher up the government chain you go.
Also, I work for a living, and live in the US, thanks for the attempt at a put down though. The country wasn’t built by taxes, in fact it was formed revolting from unjust taxation that was enriching the elite and not benefitting the country.
Marketwatch: IRS mulls offering free online tax prep services. TurboTax says IRS would turn into ‘judge, jury and executioner.’ (April 25, 2023)
https://www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/should-the-irs-get-into-the-business-of-preparing-peoples-tax-returns-just-asking-that-question-is-stoking-controversy-heres-why-2b78031e
Whatever Intuit (TurboTax) says, believe the exact opposite. They are a bunch of crooks who have spent millions of dollars to lobby Congress to make tax filing complicated and onerous. The above article is a clear example.
The IRS has proposed making eliminating the need to file a tax return at all, and doing it for you to review. They have all your documents after all. Naturally you could opt to do it on your own, but for at least 90% of people this would probably be enough.
These Tax software providers then lobby Congress to prevent the IRS from doing this, fleecing the entire country in the process. Take your money elsewhere than these unethical software companies.
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-turbotax-20-year-fight-to-stop-americans-from-filing-their-taxes-for-free
Except the IRS does not even have close to enough info on small business owners, landlords, gig workers, and others. If all you have is a W-2 and a standard deduction, the yes the IRS can calculate your taxes. But the IRS has no clue how much gas the Uber driver burned on the route or how much a landlord paid in repairs or cleaning for the rental. What about how much revenue my yard guy collects? Forget it.
Why not make it easier/free for the XX% of people for whom it would help?
more like 40-50% of households,, but it would still be a great step forward.
https://www.nber.org/papers/w30008
i have moved *counts* 6 times since filing in 2019, how will they possibly find me?
Intuit has a payroll software and company too
I moved homes since that time and don’t use turbo tax anymore so they don’t have my new address. Guess the new homeowners are going to get a nice surprise.
One word
https://turbotaxsucksass.net/