Responding to market pressure and consumer outrage, Intuit has reversed its original position and announced that customers using its best-selling TurboTax software can prepare and print multiple returns at no additional cost. Also, free e-filing is included with five Federal returns.

"We're responding to changing market conditions and customer feedback," said Dan Maurer, general manager of Intuit's consumer division. "We believe this better positions TurboTax in the marketplace with an even stronger value proposition for consumers. It's one more way we help make it easier for TurboTax customers to keep more money in their pockets."

Last week, AccountingWEB reported that 171 online product reviewers on Amazon.com had panned TurboTax with one-star ratings (as of this writing, the number is at 276). The reason? For the first time, Intuit had started charging users an additional $9.95 for each additional return whether they print or e-file. Also, reviewers complained that the 2008 version of the software costs more than last year's model, from $44.95 to $59.95.

After the Intuit changes were put in place, one Amazon reviewer gave TurboTax a five-star rating and declared, "We won, you can print unlimited returns for free."

Under the headline, "Intuit Finds Customer Complaints Too Taxing to Endure," the Washington Post reported the company would refund any preparation fees customers had already paid and an upcoming update to TurboTax software would "remove any mention of the $9.95 additional-return fee."

TurboTax guarantees taxpayers will get their biggest possible refund. TurboTax customers also benefit from many features, such as built-in guidance for more than 350 possible deductions. Intuit's product line includes QuickBooks and Quicken.

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TurboTax turmoil: Online reviews pan the top selling software