Blumenthal: TurboTax overcharging taxpayers $150

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Despite being hit with a $141 million fine two years ago for luring in customers with a false pretense of filing their taxes for free, TurboTax is still doing it, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Tuesday.

“They are falsely and deceptively luring taxpayers into their service and then promoting the services as free,” he said.

More than 41,700 Connecticut residents who used TurboTax received a collective $1.27 million in settlement checks last year.

However, Blumenthal said that TurboTax continues to upsell customers and charge them with “junk fees,” costing the average taxpayer $150 to file their taxes. Now, he’s calling on the Federal Trade commission to investigate the company.

This year, the IRS launched the pilot program Direct File, which allows some taxpayers from certain to file their taxes for free. Connecticut has not yet been added to the program.