Intuit Seeks To Scrub CEO Comments on Tax Lobbying From Tech Podcast (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0175295201
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/24/10/21/145211/intuit-seeks-to-scrub-ceo-comments-on-tax-lobbying-from-tech-podcast
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/21/24273820/intuit-ceo-sasan-goodarzi-turbotax-irs-quickbooks-ai-software-decoder-interview
The Verge said it declined to remove the segment, instead choosing to highlight the exchange by playing it at the beginning of the episode. In the interview, Goodarzi disputed claims that Intuit lobbies against [3]free tax filing , stating the company spends "a couple of million dollars fighting for simplified taxes." However, The Verge's editor Nilay Patel pressed Goodarzi on reports of Intuit's lobbying against government-provided tax returns. Patel adds:
> I got a note from Rick Heineman, the chief communications officer at Intuit, who called the line of questioning and my tone "inappropriate," "egregious," and "disappointing" and demanded that we delete that entire section of the recording. I mean, literally -- he wrote a long email that ended with "at the very least the end portion of your interview should be deleted."
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/21/24273820/intuit-ceo-sasan-goodarzi-turbotax-irs-quickbooks-ai-software-decoder-interview
[2] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/14/04/15/176254/intuit-maker-of-turbotax-lobbies-against-simplified-tax-filings
[3] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/24/04/15/2046205/the-irss-new-tax-software-rave-reviews-but-low-turnout
Somebody's about to get acquainted with... (Score:2)
the [1]Streisand effect [wikipedia.org]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Streisand Effect (Score:3)
Classic [1]Streisand Effect [wikipedia.org]. If they hadn't said anything, much fewer people would have even noticed the interview.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
How the game is played (Score:5, Insightful)
Intuit has every right to ask the question (and they did, but in the form of a "demand"), and The Verge has every right to decline (which they did). That's the best possible outcome in my book, because it adds just a little bit more out there for people to see, and learn about Intuit's shenanegans.
If Intuit really thought they had a leg to stand on (they don't), the request would have come from their lawyers. But it came from the communications director - who, I'd wager, got his metaphorical wee-wee slapped after the fact for not preparing the top dog to answer that particular question in a way that would be least-bad for Intuit, which of course was bound to come up, and is now trying to save face.
I've never used a product like TurboTax. In my youth, I did my federal taxes by hand, on paper, and mailed them in. Now I use a tax professional. I can do that, but many other people can't for various reasons, and I look forward to the day when such products is legislated out of existance.
read the article before commenting (Score:5, Interesting)
The Verge transcribed the entire part that was "controversial". It's a short read and the CEO has an interesting/intelligent spin:
> what we lobbied for: simplify the tax code
> what the government is providing is not free. You’re paying. Your tax dollars are going toward building software
It seems more like Rick Heineman (CCO) heard from the lawyers and got his panties in a bunch.
Intuit should be sanctioned! (Score:1)
One of the many reasons why Intuit will never get a penny of my money!
Corporate lobbying to their benefit, shocking! (Score:2)
I am shocked, yes, shocked, I declare to find out that corporations lobby the government for their own benefit!
How is this even news?
Oh, that they asked for an edit? All that says is their communications director or whoever is an idiot. They should have just ignored it and issued a press release if anything came from it, which it wouldn't. Does anyone even read the Verge? I couldn't even find this interesting enough to click on to see exactly what he said because so what?
The problem is that since corpor
"inappropriate," "egregious," and "disappointing" (Score:2)
"who called the line of questioning and my tone "inappropriate," "egregious," and "disappointing""
This reminds me of a tantrum recently thrown by a particular political candidate.
Tax help (Score:3)
Tax help is a dirty racket but I think everyone knew that right?
Re: (Score:3)
Tax prep for normal people is essentially a huge premium they pay for basic form filing on their behalf. Often by people who are not particularly motivated and are probably using the same software you could use yourself to auto fill your tax forms.
If you really need help with your taxes, you have an accountant or financial manager already.
Re: (Score:2)
> If you really need help with your taxes, you have an accountant or financial manager already.
Plus your accountant is accountable (no pun) to you if they make a mistake/omission in your filing; yes TurboTax offered that as an extra premium, but I'd rather deal with a real person rather than a for-profit corporation if such matters came up.