FTC bans TurboTax ads for free services

(CNN) – The Federal Trade Commission ruled against TurboTax Monday.

The agency found parent company Intuit deceived customers by advertising its tax services as free.

The problem is those tax services end up not being free for many users, like those who must file 1099 forms.

The FTC ordered Intuit to either stop advertising as free or make its services free for all customers.

It’s a final opinion on a decision first issued in September.

Intuit blasted the appeals process Monday, saying the commission serves as an accuser, judge and jury.

This decision comes after Intuit settled a lawsuit and was set to issue checks to some 4.4 million people last May.