No one is tricked ... the system has been the exactly the same for many years & the IRS FREE FILE option has been around for many years and none of the free file partners are required to advertise that option no more than your local grocer is required to tell their patrons of the free options in their town even if they donate product to the food bank. Intuit is a for profit company after all and their investors expect a return on their investment.... running the site costs lots of money so they cannot give everyone a free return.
There are many free tax prep companies and it is up the the user to find one that they are willing to use and or pay for just like anything else they shop for in life. The TT online version is free to start with and if a user was told they needed to upgrade to continue they had the choice to say no and go somewhere else ... at no time was the cost a surprise at the end. The adults who use the self prepared do-it-yourself programs have to take responsibility for reading the screens and making the correct decisions for their situations. You cannot rely on the government or any private company to make a decision for you ... just my opinion.
