Intuit Inc. has announced that it has eliminated the separate charge for federal electronic filing in its TurboTax packaged software products, the nation's leading tax preparation software. This decision more closely aligns the federal TurboTax desktop pricing structure with TurboTax Online where e-file is included with purchase.

"Eliminating separate fees for filing individual federal tax returns is the right thing for American taxpayers," said Kiran Patel, senior vice president and general manager of Intuit's Consumer Tax Division. "This will encourage more e-filed returns and help the IRS achieve its e-file goals."

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and the leading advocate in Congress for universal free e-filing, recognized Intuit's decision.

"I am pleased to see that Intuit is taking a leadership role by eliminating all separate federal e-filing fees in its leading TurboTax products, as communicated in their letter to me of September 12, 2008. It is my hope that by next tax season all of the major tax software and tax preparation companies will follow suit and that e-filing will be free for all taxpayers, regardless of how they file their returns."

Consumer adoption of e-filing has grown dramatically, and the majority of TurboTax customers now file their tax returns electronically. By including services such as ItsDeductible, Audit Support, and now federal e-filing, TurboTax aims to deliver greater ease and value to taxpayers. Rather than charge separately for these various services, Intuit now includes them in TurboTax at a price lower than what customers would have otherwise paid for them separately.