SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

TurboTax®, the nation’s leading tax preparation service of federal tax returns, from Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), reminds taxpayers that the Internal Revenue Service begins accepting e-filed tax returns today, officially kicking off the tax season. Taxpayers can file now with TurboTax and get every dollar they deserve.

At TurboTax, we have been helping taxpayers file their taxes for over 30 years. Last year alone, we processed over 40 million tax returns for taxpayers. Regardless of a person’s tax situation, TurboTax has taxpayers covered with step-by-step guidance and live credentialed tax experts to ensure they get their maximum tax refund and they are not alone.

“We know tax reform may have raised questions for some taxpayers, but rest assured for the majority of taxpayers, the new tax laws don’t impact their 2017 taxes and TurboTax is up to date with the latest tax law changes,” said Intuit’s Chief Tax Officer, David Williams. “And with about 75% of taxpayers getting tax refunds and the average direct deposit tax refund over $3,000 last tax season, there is no reason to wait to file. By filing now, taxpayers can be first in line for their tax refunds.”

We know taxpayers work hard for their money and TurboTax wants to help them find and keep more of it. That’s why, for the fourth year in a row, TurboTax is providing totally free tax filing to millions of customers with TurboTax® Absolute Zero®. For a limited time, the over 60 million taxpayers filing a 1040A or 1040EZ can do their federal and state taxes and have complete confidence that their taxes will be absolutely free, guaranteed, and that they are getting their maximum tax refunds. And TurboTax doesn’t charge extra for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Taxpayers whose incomes are under the IRS income filing requirement are also reminded to file if they had federal taxes taken out of their paychecks since they may have a refund owed to them, especially if they are eligible for a refundable tax credit like the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can mean a tax credit over $6,000 for a family with three kids. The IRS reports close to one billion dollars in unclaimed refunds every year that belong to taxpayers who don’t file their taxes and the average tax refund is close to $700.

For those who want the added confidence of expert help, TurboTax now offers TurboTax Live to quickly connect you to a live Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Enrolled Agent (EA) via one-way video technology, on demand from the comfort of your couch. Our TurboTax Live tax experts are standing by to answer your tax questions, provide personalized tax advice and answers, and walk you through your return. Our tax experts can even review, sign, and file your tax return for added confidence.

According to the IRS, the fastest way for taxpayers to get their tax refunds is e-file with direct deposit. The IRS expects to issue more than 9 out of 10 federal tax refunds in less than 21 days after acceptance. The IRS also wants us to remind taxpayers, that by law, the IRS cannot issue tax refunds on tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit before mid-February 2018, but taxpayers are still encouraged to file today since the IRS will still process taxpayers’ tax returns in the order they are received. If taxpayers are using tax software for the first time, they should also have a copy of their 2016 tax returns since taxpayers are required to enter their prior year adjusted gross incomes (AGI) to file electronically. The tax deadline to file individual tax returns this year is April 17.

The IRS has once again opened its popular Free File Program, available at www.irs.gov, a public-private partnership between the federal government and private tax preparation companies, including TurboTax maker Intuit. Eligible taxpayers can prepare and file their federal and state tax returns with TurboTax All Free, available through IRS.gov, at no cost.

About Intuit

Intuit’s mission is to Power Prosperity Around the World. Its global products and platforms, including TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint and Turbo, are designed to empower consumers, self-employed, and small businesses to improve their financial lives, finding them more money with the least amount of work, while giving them complete confidence in their actions and decisions. Intuit’s innovative ecosystem of financial management solutions serves partners and 46 million customers worldwide, unleashing the power of many for the prosperity of one. For the latest news and in-depth information about Intuit and its brands, visit Intuit.com and follow on Facebook.

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