Ontario Court Certifies Class Action Against Intuit Over TurboTax Fees

The legal action covers every consumer who utilized TurboTax online software to prepare or file Canadian tax returns since January 1, 2015. The core of the complaint centers on the company’s shift from an unqualified "free, free, free" advertising campaign to a "free for simple tax returns" model in 2021. The plaintiff contends that both iterations were misleading, characterizing the software’s interface as a bait-and-switch scheme that traps users into entering sensitive financial data before revealing hidden costs.

In her ruling, Justice Leiper determined the case is highly suitable for class proceedings, citing potential violations of provincial consumer protection laws, the federal Competition Act, and claims of unjust enrichment. The court also cleared the way for a trial on aggregate damages, accepting a proposed methodology that relies on internal Intuit data to calculate losses without requiring individual proof from every class member. While Intuit has rejected the allegations and signaled its intent to appeal the certification, the case will proceed toward a common issues trial.