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TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

propublica.org

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Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#11

Post by bonyt »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

That's not their freefile page, that is their more limited free edition page. That's part of the confusion. The /taxfreedom/ page, which is linked to from the IRS website, is blocked in robots.txt

https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#12

Post by morley »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

As the article mentions, it's set in the metatags of the page https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/:

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#14

Post by [deleted] »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

[deleted]

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#15

Post by zamadatix »

sithlord wrote: post #3

Wouldn't this need to be listed on the disallow on the robots.txt if they didnt want them to index the page?

The article has sections detailing how blocking works and literally provides pictures of highlighted sections of the websites source code covering this question.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#16

Post by schwanksta »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

The page you found is a different page, not related to the IRS' "free file"/FFA program for those who make under a certain amount. See previous coverage here: https://www.propublica.org/article/turbotax-just-tricked-you...

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#17

Post by danso »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

You're missing that the Free File Program and Turbotax "Free Edition" are entirely different things:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2572617-what-s-the-differe...

> TurboTax Free File Program is geared towards lower-income filers, regardless of tax return complexity, and is only offered through the IRS Free File Alliance (FFA) program. No upgrades are available.

> TurboTax Free Edition, on the other hand, can be used by higher-income filers but only handles simple returns with no additional schedules. Upgrades and add-ons, such as TurboTax PLUS and Audit Defense, are available.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#18

Post by Liquix »

czbond wrote: post #2

And this is news worthy, how?

Large companies have been in the spotlight in the last 12 months for placing corporate interests above the interests of users. The use of 'dark patterns' (subtle, intentional UX changes with the purpose of driving user behavior towards a desired outcome) has been discussed as well.

It is now tax season and many were not as informed on these issues last time they filed as they are now. Looking at the online free filing process under the aforementioned lens generates new observations, discussions, debates, headlines...

Imo it's not so much that this is something new that's happening, it's that people are now aware of and pissed off about it.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#19

Post by dmayle »

Zenst wrote: post #5

I popped "file free tax returns turbotax" into Google and found the page directly listed. The page in question is https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-editi... The robots.txt for the intuit.com domain is: https://turbotax.intuit.com/robots.txt Not listing in robots.txt to block the personal-taxes folder, which has many offerings and a sub from that is the free one. I'm not seeing the block that the…

The version you're seeing is the freemium version of TurboTax. While it says it's free, it's attempts to upsell you into paying for filing.

The version that propublica is talking about is actually free for the whole service.

Re: TurboTax Hides Its Free File Page from Search Engines

#20

Post by dacohenii »

metalliqaz wrote: post #4

Yeah they do, of course they do. They are in business to make money, after all. The real story is the absolute travesty of government corruption that TurboTax and HR Block have perpetrated by making it illegal for the government to make tax filing as easy as it should be. It's one of the things I would immediately correct if I was king for a day.

There's a good Planet Money episode about this, in case you like podcasts: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/03/22/521132960/epis...
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