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Search resuls for: "Dara Redler"


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The FTC filed a lawsuit against H&R Block over what the commission called deceptive advertising. AdvertisementSo-called "free" online tax filing services like Intuit's TurboTax and H&R Block's Online Filing option have, for a long time, not actually been free for many Americans. The consumer protection agency filed a complaint against H&R Block last week, accusing the company of deceptive advertising and unfairly deleting users' tax data. A 2019 ProPublica investigation found Intuit and H&R Block's practices — including hiding their free filing options from Google search — are part of a decadeslong lobbying effort by the companies to keep tax filing services complicated. It was partially because of those lobbying efforts that the IRS did not roll out its own online free tax filing pilot until last year.
Persons: , Samuel Levine, Levine, Dara Redler, Derrick L, Plummer Organizations: FTC, H, Intuit, Service, Consumer, Business, NPR, Google, IRS Locations: FTC's
The consumer protection agency’s complaint alleges that H&R Block makes it unnecessarily time consuming and frustrating for consumers to downgrade to a lower cost tax-preparation option online after initially selecting a higher cost one. “H&R Block deceptively markets its Online Products by representing to consumers that they can file for free using H&R Block, when in fact, many consumers have tax situations that are not covered by H&R Block’s Online Product,” according to the complaint. We are confident in the value our services and offerings provide to our clients who have trusted H&R Block for nearly 70 years,” Redler said. H&R Block told CNN “there is no threshold. Earlier this month, the FTC took similar action against Intuit, maker of Turbo Tax tax filing software, “for deceiving consumers with bogus advertisements pitching ‘free’ tax filing that millions of consumers could not use.”
Persons: , Dara Redler, ” Redler, It’s, Jeff Jones, Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Products, CNN, FTC, Block, CNN Business, Intuit, Turbo Locations: New York
An H & R Block tax preparation office is seen on Flatbush Avenue on February 06, 2024 in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn borough in New York City. H&R Block marketed free products to many consumers who didn't qualify and made it difficult to downgrade, according to the complaint. "H&R Block allows consumers to downgrade to a less expensive DIY product via multiple mechanisms while ensuring the preparation of accurate tax returns." FTC banned 'deceptive advertising' from IntuitThis is the second FTC action against tax filing software providers in recent history. Other free tax filing optionsMeanwhile, consumers have several free tax filing options this season, including a Direct File pilot via the IRS, which will offer limited free filing for certain taxpayers in 12 states by mid-March.
Persons: Michael M, Samuel Levine, Dara Redler, Ed Mierzwinski, PIRG Organizations: Santiago, Getty, Intuit, Federal Trade Commission, Block, Consumer Protection, U.S . Public Interest Research, FTC, IRS Locations: Flatbush, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, FTC's
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