Intuit-TurboTax and H&R Block-TaxCut Square Off in Court

The publishers of the two biggest tax preparation software programs -- TurboTax (Intuit) and TaxCut (H&R Block) -- are embroiled in dueling lawsuits over Intuit's remarks about H&R Block in a $25 million national advertising campaign:

H&R Block alleged in its complaint that TV ads for TurboTax contained statements that "are literally false, deceptive and misleading" and damaging to the H&R Block name. H&R Block, which makes the tax preparation software TaxCut, alleges that Intuit falsely stated in the television ad that "more returns were prepared with TurboTax last year than at all the H&R Block stores combined." H&R Block said the more than 26 million returns its stores prepared last year far exceeds the 21 million prepared with TurboTax.

For press reports, see:

• Tax Firms Turbo-Charge Court Battle
• Trademark Infringement Action Centers on TurboTax Ad Campaign

(Hat Tip:  The Tax Guru.)