Leading tax prep companies Intuit and H&R Block poured more than $7 million into federal lobbying in 2025 – the same year the IRS’s free Direct File program was shuttered.
Those two companies have spent a combined $103 million on federal lobbying since 2003 on a range of issues that include free filing – specifically, the government-run Direct File program established under former President Joe Bi...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a clear conflict between private tax preparation companies and government efforts to simplify tax filing. The lobbying expenditures by Intuit and H&R Block are substantial, and the timing of Direct File’s shutdown aligns with their financial interests. The use of "revolving door" lobbyists—former government officials now advocating for private firms—adds credibility to the argument that these companies wield significant influence. The Free File ...