Tax preparation software maker Intuit Inc. (INTU: Quote) said Monday that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri has denied, for the second time, tax preparer H&R Block, Inc.’s (HRB: Quote) attempt to stop Intuit from continuing to air two television advertisements for TurboTax.
In denying H&R Block’s motion for a preliminary injunction, the court noted that although H&R Block makes “much of their training programs for tax preparers in their first year and beyond, training is not the same thing as experience.” The judge further stated that “it is not false or misleading…to draw consumers’ attention to the true statement that certain consumers who go to major tax stores could have their taxes prepared by someone who has no prior work experience preparing taxes.”
The court further recognized that the statement “More Americans trusted their federal taxes to TurboTax last year than H&R Block stores and all other major tax stores combined” is true, Intuit noted.
Dan Maurer, general manager and senior vice president of Intuit’s Consumer Tax Group, said, “Today’s ruling is a victory for hardworking taxpayers. For the second time, the court has rejected H&R Block’s attempts to pull advertisements that make clear to taxpayers that TurboTax hires only CPAs, Enrolled Agents and tax attorneys to assist Americans as they prepare their own tax returns. This stands in sharp contrast to the prior tax experience of some of those who major tax stores advertise for and hire.”
“We urge taxpayers to take a second and look at who is preparing their tax return at H&R Block. Not only does TurboTax save taxpayers on average $100 or more over H&R Block stores, we stand behind every return with our 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee and our Maximum Refund Guarantee so customers can be confident they’ll get it right the first time,” Maurer added.
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by RTT Staff Writer
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