Federal Trade Commission bans ‘deceptive advertising’ for free filing from TurboTax maker Intuit

“Absolutely no one should be surprised that FTC Commissioners — employees of the FTC — ruled in favor of the FTC as they have done in every appeal for the last two decades,” Derrick Plummer, spokesperson for Intuit, said in a statement. “This decision is the result of a biased and broken system where the Commission serves as accuser, judge, jury, and then appellate judge all in the same case.”

“Intuit has appealed this deeply flawed decision, and we believe that when the matter ultimately returns to a neutral body Intuit will prevail,” he added.

The opinion comes as the IRS prepares to launch Direct File, the agency’s free electronic tax filing pilot program, which will allow certain taxpayers to file federal returns directly with the IRS. The limited pilot will roll out in phases in certain states, with wider availability expected by mid-March.