In an October 2024 interview, The Verge’s Nilay Patel challenged Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi about the company’s lobbying and simpler government-run tax filing. Intuit later asked The Verge to cut or edit that exchange, according to Gizmodo. Separately, the Federal Trade Commission found that TurboTax’s “free” advertising misled consumers who were not eligible for its free product. Those are two distinct stories: the interview request was reported by a news outlet; the FTC’s findings came from an official opinion and order.
What did Intuit ask The Verge to change?
In a Decoder podcast interview, Patel questioned Goodarzi about lobbying against simpler filing and a government-prepared tax return. Goodarzi argued that making taxes simpler requires changes to the tax system and said Intuit had focused its lobbying on simplifying the tax code.
After the interview, Intuit’s head of communications contacted The Verge and asked that the exchange be cut or edited to make it seem less confrontational, Gizmodo reported on October 21, 2024. The report describes an editorial request; it does not establish that The Verge made the requested change. Read Gizmodo’s account of the interview and request.
What was reported about Intuit’s lobbying?
Gizmodo reported that Intuit spent $3.8 million lobbying against IRS Direct File in 2023. That figure is Gizmodo’s reporting and has not been independently verified here against a lobbying disclosure. It should not be treated as proof of Intuit’s motive, nor as an FTC finding.
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- TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
- Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
- Recommended if you are self-employed, an independent contractor, freelancer, small business owner, sole proprietor, or consultant
- Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary)
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Gizmodo also described Direct File as first becoming available in 2024 in a limited number of states. That is historical context, not a statement about the program’s current availability. The cited sources do not establish current eligibility or geographic reach.
What did the FTC find about TurboTax’s “free” advertising?
In January 2024, the FTC issued an opinion finding that Intuit’s advertising for free TurboTax products and services deceived consumers who were not eligible to use them. The FTC’s final order bars Intuit from advertising a product as free unless it is free for all consumers or the company clearly and conspicuously discloses, close to the free claim, the percentage of consumers who qualify. It also requires disclosure of material terms and prohibits misrepresentations about matters including price and whether consumers can file accurately without paid TurboTax service. See the FTC’s announcement of its opinion and order.
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- TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
- Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
- Recommended if you have a partnership, own an S or C Corp, Multi-Member LLC, manage a trust or estate, or need to file a separate tax return for your business
- Includes 5 Federal e-files. Business State forms sold separately via download. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
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The FTC case record says approximately two-thirds of tax filers could not use TurboTax’s free product in 2020. That is a historical figure for 2020, not a current estimate of eligibility. View the FTC case record.
In a January 22, 2024 statement about the order, Samuel Levine, then director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said: “The order also sends a message across industry – ‘free’ means free – not ‘free for a few’ or ‘free for some.’” That was Levine’s characterization of the order, not a quotation from the Commission’s opinion.
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- TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
- Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
- Recommended if you own a home, have charitable donations, high medical expenses and need to file both Federal & State Tax Returns
- Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
- Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)
Does this tell you whether you can file for free?
No. The interview and FTC case do not determine whether a particular taxpayer qualifies for a free filing option today. Eligibility depends on the filing year, the taxpayer’s circumstances and the forms involved. Before choosing a service, check the current eligibility rules and compare the total federal and state cost, whether the option is government-run or commercial, and what assistance is available for a more complex return.
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- TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
- Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
- Recommended if you own a home, have charitable donations, high medical expenses, or only need to file a Federal Tax Return
- Includes 5 federal e-files. State download and e-file additional. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
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- TurboTax Desktop Edition is download software which you install on your computer for use
- Requires Windows 11 or macOS Sonoma or later (Windows 10 not supported)
- Recommended if you sold stock, bonds or mutual funds, sold employee stock, own rental property or are a trust beneficiary.
- Includes 5 Federal e-files and 1 State via download. State e-file sold separately. Get U.S.-based technical support (hours may vary).
- Live Tax Advice: Connect with a tax expert and get one-on-one advice and answers as you prepare your return (fee applies)
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