538
FTC bans TurboTax from advertising ‘free’ services, calls it deceptive (edition.cnn.com)
submitted 2 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

FTC bans TurboTax from advertising ‘free’ services, calls it deceptive::The Federal Trade Commission ruled in a final order and opinion Monday that TurboTax, the popular tax filing software, engaged in deceptive advertising and banned the company from advertising its services for free unless it is free for all customers.

all 16 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 65 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

Heck yeah. F you Intuit!

Freetaxusa.com for those who are looking for a much better alt.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 6 child comments
    •
  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Free except if you're filing state taxes

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 23 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    It's a flat $15 for the state filing regardless of state or income, it's the main way they make money to be able to run (their optional support options are the other way they make money). I prefer the transparency of $0 federal $15 state to some ambiguous amount between $169 and $359 federal and $39-$64 state for TurboTax

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago

    Wow, that’s crazy. I use TurboTax every year and federal tax filing has always been free (included in purchase) plus I think $30 for State filing. Every year for decades. Where are those huge fees coming from? Do you have a business or something?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
    • [–] 29 points 2 years ago (5 children)

    This is something I don't get. I live in a "third world shithole" (Brazil). Annually, we have to fill online form (that already comes pre-filled), for most people there's a minimal amount of work involved. Only very rich people need accountants and stuff. Why the USA can't (or won't) do something like that is beyond me.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 10 child comments
    •
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago

    Americans are largely stupid and believe taxes are more complicated than they really are. The majority can use the standard deduction, and maybe have to add child tax credits. That can be done in less than an hour manually, the hardest part would be getting a physical copy of a 1040.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    US Taxes can be very complex and the gov’t does not know ahead of time all the details.

    However:

    • salary and interest income are reported by employers
    • EZ form contains info the gov’t already knows
    • Newly increased standard deduction means that most people no longer can itemize (e

    I’m not sure what’s missing to keep these from being simple and automatic for the majority: tipping income? State and local taxes? All the little nooks and crannies that make taxes complex are really not likely for most people.

    I don’t know the limits are for TurboTax free filing but I’d expect most people to be able to now.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    Actually, the standard deduction doesn't mean people can't itemize, it means it doesn't make financial sense to itemize. Itemizing is worse for them. If they want to itemize, they're still allowed to.

    ... At least that's what TurboTax and the other FreeFile program I used claimed.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
    • [–] 24 points 2 years ago

    TurboTax has Supreme Court money. They may choose to purchase a SCOTUS ruling that allows them to ignore the FTC.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •