Here Is the Actual TurboTax Link to the File for Free
If you’re looking for the free TurboTax file option, you’ve probably heard that it can be tricky to find.
Here’s where to go: https://freefile.intuit.com/ .
Why are we hitting you in the head over something you think is obvious As ProPublica reports a lot, TurboTax Free File is not easy to find – and it was a move by the company on purpose:
This week we reported on how TurboTax is using deceptive design and misleading ads to trick low-income Americans into paying taxes, even if they are free to do so.
There’s a new catch: it turns out Intuit, the creator of TurboTax, is deliberately hiding the truly free version – TurboTax Free File – from Google searches.
Intuit did this by adding code to its site to tell Google and other search engines not to display TurboTax Free File in search results.
Although TurboTax removed this code after ProPublica posted its results, you will still want to know the difference between the main TurboTax site and the TurboTax free files site. Why? Because even though the main site TurboTax does advertise the fact that you can file taxes for free, the path you take on the site is designed to convince you that you really need to pay TurboTax to file your tax return.
We started the process by creating a TaskRabbit house cleaner profile, which received $ 29,000. We have entered extensive personal information. TurboTax asked us to review over a dozen questions and tips about our finances.
After all this, we got some bad news: TurboTax announced that it would not be free. It turned out that the janitor was not qualified because he is an independent contractor. Charge? USD 119.99.
When ProPublica created the same independent contractor profile at TurboTax.Intuit.com/TaxFreedom , they were able to file taxes for free.
So if you want to file your tax return for free, know which URL gives you that option – and if you paid to file your tax return with TurboTax, even if you should have been eligible to file your tax return for free, call them and ask for a refund. …
This post was originally published in 2019 but was updated in February 2020 with more recent information.