The Federal Trade Commission has won a administrative ruing against Intuit for what it claimed were deceptive ads used by Intuit which offered free tax filing products. Intuit said it will appeal the decision.It is the latest in a series of actions against Intuit claiming it lured customers by promising free use filing if they used TurboTax, but then charged them for the service.
In April 2022, a U.S. judge refused an FTC request to block Intuit’s use of the ads but the next month, Intuit agreed to pay $141 to settle claims by the governments of all states and the District of Columbia which claimed it tricked customer into buying TurboTax. Intuit admitted to wrongdoing in entering into the agreement.
The settlement required Intuit to stop using slogans that used phrases such as "TurboTax Free is free. Free free free free".”
Intuit said it already is complying with most of the point in the FTC decision and claimed it has been fair and transparent in with its customers “and is committed to free tax preparation".
