How Intuit Blocked Free Tax Filing for Americans Through Lobbying and Deceptive Practices
By
lelandfe
7mo ago· 37 min readenNews
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Summary
This investigative report details how Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, has systematically fought for two decades to prevent the U.S. government from creating a free, simple tax filing system. Through extensive lobbying, hiring former government officials, and using deceptive 'dark pattern' design tactics, Intuit has successfully maintained its multi-billion-dollar tax preparation business by keeping tax filing complex and costly for Americans. The article reveals how the company has repeatedly blocked IRS efforts to implement free filing options while marketing its own 'free' version that actually charges many users.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledIntuit has spent more than $25 million on lobbying over the past decade alone, according to federal lobbying disclosures.
The company has repeatedly beaten back initiatives to make tax filing free and easy for all Americans, preserving its lucrative franchise.
Intuit deployed what are known as 'dark patterns' — design tricks that make it hard for users to find or use the truly free version.
The company hired former government officials, including several former IRS commissioners, to help in its fight.
Intuit's campaign has been so successful that it has managed to fend off the government's attempts to make tax filing free and easy for 20 years.
Using lobbying, the revolving door and “dark pattern” customer tricks, Intuit fended off the government’s attempts to make tax filing free and easy, and created its multi-billion-dollar franchise.
