As the old adage goes, the only things certain in life are death and taxes. So every spring, without fail, tax season arrives. Just as it is inevitable that tax returns must be filed, we inevitably wish to make the process as easy and inexpensive as possible. As a result, many turn to software programs such as Intuit’s TurboTax, rather than employing the assistance of an accountant or other tax professional. Indeed, given TurboTax’s “100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee,” it would seem that Intuit’s customers have nothing to lose.
Or do they? Recently, numerous customers have reported calculation errors in their returns prepared though TurboTax. Many of these consumers, having checked their returns before filing, were unaware of the errors until they received notices from the Internal Revenue Service that additional taxes were owed, with penalties.
What’s more, Intuit appears not to be living up to its “100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee.” Intuit guarantees that “If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we’ll pay you the penalty and interest.” However, many consumers claim that they were required to pay a penalty on their taxes, and that Intuit refused to reimburse them.
If you have filed a tax return using Intuit’s TurboTax and received notice of a penalty from the IRS or state tax agency, please contact us to discuss your rights.