Be sure to check out any free offer to make sure it actually don’t cost anything.
In an order issued Monday, the Federal Trade Commission said Intuit, maker of TurboTax, the popular tax filing software, engaged in deceptive advertising when it ran ads for “free” tax products and services that many consumers were ineligible for.
The FTC ordered Intuit to stop advertising any free product or service unless it’s free for all consumers or it discloses clearly near the “free” claim the percentage consumers that qualify for the free offering. Or, it could disclose that a majority of consumers don’t qualify.
The FTC opinion upheld the ruling by an administrative law judge in September that found Intuit engaged in deceptive advertising that violated federal law prohibiting unfair business practices.
Most people who tried to use TurboTax’s free offer only found out it would cost money well after they spent a lot of time putting all their information into the system.
The FTC offers this list of real free help with your taxes:
- If your adjusted gross income was $79,000 or less, the IRS Free File Program has free guided tax prep software for your federal taxes. Use this tool to find an IRS Free File trusted partner.
- For servicemembers or veterans, MilTax is the U.S. Department of Defense’s free filing program. There, you can check eligibility, including for family members and survivors.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS program that helps people who make $64,000 or less, have a disability, or who don’t feel comfortable speaking English. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) helps people 60 and older.
- For this tax season free tax filing, be on the lookout for the IRS’s Free File Fillable Forms, opening soon, to check eligibility and get online versions of your federal tax forms, but no guidance.
- This year, the IRS is launching a Direct File pilot in 12 states. If you’re eligible and want to participate in the pilot, you can electronically file your 2023 federal tax return for free directly with the IRS.
Like always, be an alert informed consumer and check out any free offer to make sure it’s actually free.
