Penalty Amount
$141,000,000
Consumers Affected
40,841
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong secured $1.2 million in restitution for 40,841 state consumers as part of a multistate $141 million settlement with Intuit Inc., the owner of TurboTax. The settlement resolves allegations that Intuit deceived low-income consumers into paying for tax preparation services that were offered for free through the IRS Free File program by using deceptive marketing tactics and confusing product names. Intuit must pay restitution, suspend its 'free, free, free' ad campaign, and implement business practice reforms.
Intuit must pay $141 million in restitution nationwide, including $1.2 million to Connecticut consumers, with affected individuals receiving approximately $29.64 per year deceived. The company must cease misrepresentations in advertising, enhance disclosures for free products, improve product design to inform users of free eligibility, and refrain from forcing consumers to restart filings when switching to free products.
In-house legal teams should review customer service agreements and terms of service for tax preparation software (e.g., TurboTax) and similar financial products. Focus on clauses governing marketing representations, pricing and fee disclosures, product/service tier definitions, and any guarantees related to 'free' offerings. Specific attention is needed on how product names and promotional materials are described contractually versus how they are advertised. Changes may be required to ensure clarity between 'free' IRS-sponsored options (like Free File) and paid products, revise pricing tables to eliminate ambiguity, and implement compliance mechanisms to prevent misleading advertising claims as mandated by the settlement's suspension of the 'free, free, free' campaign.
Entity
Intuit Inc.
Also known as: Intuit
Industry
TechnologyOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2022-press-releases/ag-tong-secures-restitution-for-connecticut-consumers-deceived-by-turbotax
final assurance intuit and nyag execution.pdf?rev=580985b6e7
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2022/final-assurance-intuit-and-nyag-execution.pdf?rev=580985b6e7ef4c939d9c01fae9130b53&hash=1A61AA3998B11420AFFBB7BDB4EFC19A
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing suit against NHTSA over its rule weakening fuel economy standards for new passenger cars and light trucks. The lawsuit alleges the rule violates the agency’s statutory mandate and the Administrative Procedure Act; no penalty or final remedy is reported.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.
$400.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.
Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.