Hi Reader,

Way back in 2013, ProPublica published a story about how the IRS struck a temporary deal with Intuit and other for-profit tax preparation companies to offer their products for free to qualifying taxpayers, while the government pledged not to create its own competing system (something many other countries provide to their citizens).

We’re no strangers to digging deep into the inner workings of corporations, so we stuck with this story. And in 2019, we exposed how TurboTax was using deceptive design and misleading tactics to steer low-income filers to paid versions of its service when they were eligible to file for free. These questionable tactics worked. Only a tiny percentage of eligible taxpayers actually used the free products.

We’ve been following the impact of this investigation ever since, from public outcry to federal and state investigations to lawsuits by both TurboTax customers and the FTC. The IRS announced major reforms to its agreement with the tax prep software industry, including new policies that would allow citizens to file their taxes directly with the government for free. Last month, Intuit reached a $141 million settlement with state attorneys general to pay up to $90 apiece to more than 4 million people who paid for TurboTax even though they were eligible to receive it free of charge.

This entire investigation represents how powerful and wide-reaching journalism can be when published in the public interest. And with the public’s support, we’re able to dig deep and uncover practices that corporations would much rather remain hidden.

As a reader of ProPublica, I know that you come to us for well-researched investigative journalism that you can’t get anywhere else. We invest the time and resources needed to stick with our stories for as long as it takes to follow every thread of injustice and see that wrongs get righted.

Help us continue this critical work by joining us today with your donation of any amount. Journalism for the people is also powered by the people, and we’re counting on you to stand with us.

Thanks so much,
Jill Shepherd
Proud ProPublican