TurboTax Maker Offers $25 Rebate and Says, ‘We Messed Up’

Intuit, the maker of TurboTax software, apologized after an onslaught of consumer complaints about the unexpected need to buy an upgrade this year for some types of filings.

Intuit emailed several million TurboTax Deluxe customers on Friday who bought a CD or downloaded the product last year, a spokeswoman said. Those customers would be eligible for a $25 rebate if they need to upgrade to TurboTax Premier or TurboTax Home & Business to file small business, capital gains or rental property information.

“We have heard from many of you that you were surprised when you discovered the change,” general manager Sasan Goodarzi said in a letter to consumers. “No one likes this kind of a surprise, so we are taking immediate action to make things right and help you through this transition year.”

Customers can apply for the $25 rebate at turbotax.intuit.com/25back. Eligible customers should receive a check within seven days, said spokeswoman Julie Miller.

The TurboTax website shows that the price of the CD or download version of TurboTax Premier is $89.99 and the Home & Business version is $99.99. The Deluxe software many customers used for 2013 returns is listed for $59.99.

Each year, a new version of the TurboTax software has to be bought because tax rules change, Miller said. The downloaded or CD version of the software allows a family to file up to five returns. Online, customers have to pay a fee for each return. About 80 percent of customers file online, Miller said.

“We clearly messed up here and didn’t communicate as broadly or proactively to our customers around these changes,” Miller said. “We caught them by surprise. They are absolutely rightfully unhappy about it. So we are both apologizing and offering the $25 back as a way to help with this unexpected financial impact.”

This article appeared in print in the January 26th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.