| What did you think of last night's ads, Danielle? With me being a senator from Massachusetts, you can probably guess which one was my personal favorite. One of my least favorites, though? Intuit TurboTax spent millions to run another Super Bowl ad bragging about how their product makes it fast and easy to file your taxes. But they failed to mention one big piece of information: They've also spent millions of dollars lobbying to make the tax-filing process as difficult and time-consuming as possible. All to create more demand for their product. All to pad their profits. And all at the expense of Americans who spend an average of $240 and 13 hours to file their taxes every year. As if that isn't bad enough, Intuit has also tricked low-income Americans who are eligible for free filing services into paying for its company's products. And you know what? Intuit legally can't advertise TurboTax as "free" anymore because of all the junk fees they've sprung on taxpayers. So that Super Bowl ad should have come with a big disclaimer at the end in gigantic print: "This commercial has been subsidized by all the taxpayers who paid for a service that should have been free." But there's good news: the IRS is piloting a truly free Direct File program, starting this tax season. Sure enough, though, tax prep giants like Intuit are lobbying to stop this solution in its tracks. To get free tax filing across the finish line, Washington needs to hear from the American people. If you're sick and tired of seeing these expensive ads from tax prep giants, add your name to say you agree it should be quick and easy to file your taxes without having to turn to a private company. For years and years, I've called out giant tax prep corporations for lobbying to keep it an expensive hassle to file your taxes. I've urged the IRS to make free filing a reality — in legislation, in hearings, in letters, in explainers, you name it. And I haven't been alone. People like you have raised your voices, too — in petitions, on social media, in messages to elected officials, and more. Two years ago, Democrats included funding for free tax filing in the Inflation Reduction Act, along with support for the IRS to crack down on wealthy tax cheats. And starting this year, the pilot program is getting off the ground. I'm going to stay on this and make sure Americans don't have to waste time and money with big tax prep corporations. And I'm asking you to stay in this fight by my side. Add your name if you agree it's long past time for a free federal tax filing program. Thanks for being a part of this, Elizabeth  | 
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