Nov 21 (Reuters) - Intuit projected

second-quarter revenue and profit below market estimates on

Thursday, hampered by sluggish demand for its financial

management services and a planned change in the timing of its

promotions.

The company's consumer group, which caters to individuals,

is expected to see a single-digit revenue decline in the second

quarter due to the delay in promotions for the desktop offering

of TurboTax, its software widely used by Americans to file their

taxes.

Intuit said the delay only impacts revenue timing and

reiterated its annual forecast for double-digit revenue growth.

The company offers financial products, including personal

finance portal Credit Karma, marketing platform Mailchimp and

accounting software suite QuickBooks that help small businesses

manage their finances.

Its shares had declined 5.1% on Tuesday after a Washington

Post report that President-elect Donald Trump's government

efficiency team was considering creating a free tax-filing app.

"I am personally engaging with the incoming leaders and new

administration," CEO Sasan Goodarzi told Reuters.

"They're looking for an opportunity to make the tax code in

general just simpler. And as we've always said, another free tax

software is not going to make any impact because free (software)

is already available to all Americans," he added.

Intuit competes with firms such as H & R Block ( HRB ),

Oracle's NetSuite and Microsoft's ( MSFT ) Dynamics 365

Platform, which all offer similar financial services.

It expects revenue to be between $3.81 billion and $3.84

billion for the second quarter ending Jan. 31, below analysts'

average estimate of $3.87 billion, according to data compiled by

LSEG.

The company forecast quarterly adjusted profit per share of

$2.55 to $2.61, below average estimate of $3.20.

Revenue for the first quarter, ended Oct.31, grew about 10%

to $3.28 billion, beating estimates of $3.14 billion. Excluding

items, it earned $2.50 per share, compared with an estimated

$2.35 per share.