Tax Audit Defense for only 1 year

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 16, 2025
48 replies
353 views

I have been purchasing Audit Defense through Turbo Tax for over 10 years. I have just discovered that, for tax years 2023 and 2024, the product sold to me through Turbo Tax was for only 1year. It was no longer effective after 4-15-2024 and 4-15 of the next year. The person at TaxAudit.com said there were 2 versions (one for a year and one for as long as you might be audited), and I had bought the 1 year version for the past 2 years. I couldn't believe it.

I just went through the order process again through Turbo Tax when you are ready to file, and they NEVER ask you what version of Audit Defense you want (1 year or the length of the statute of limitations on audits. NEVER,

So why is Turbo Tax selling me the 1 year version. WHO WOULD BUY AUDIT PROTECTION FOR ONE YEAR ANYWAY??? That makes no sense.

Has this happened top anyone else? What can we do. I now have 2 years of taxes with no audit protection,,,

TurboTax Home & Biz Windows

Show previous replies

the_9th

Level 2

I realize this post is a year old — but I wanted to come and post here for anyone else who stumbles across it. I, too, was burned by an "almost audit" from a two-year-old return. Fortunately, I was in the right and was able to resolve my situation prior to an audit.

The folks at Tax Audit asked me, "why I stopped purchasing the lifetime option of Tax Audit Protection." That's how I found out things had changed.

I learned you can buy the service directly from Tax Audit for no additional charge, and you are covered for the legal audit limit, not a useless one-year period. I am sure TurboTax justifies this as a convenience. But if they are going to shorten the window, the service should cost less. Or, an option for a longer coverage period should be clearer; the New limitation should not be buried in the fine print.

I am not sure about posting links here, so I will just say: go directly to TaxAudit.com and follow the prompts. If this does not work.

Small Business / Individual

the_9th

Level 2

One more very important thing I learned from the Tax Audit people — if you are a sole proprietor LLC, they actually charge us LESS than TurboTax for the protection.

From their website:

If your business is a Sole Proprietorship and files a Schedule C with your individual tax return, it is included under our Individual Audit Defense Memberships. Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) that elect to be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship and file with a Schedule C are also included.

Tennisfam

Level 3

I found the solution to this today, and thank you for the post and all of the community replies. This is a problem, and before I purchased today, I was determined to find a solution. It turns out that this can be easily fixed with a workaround. Instead of purchasing audit defense within the Turbo Tax program, go to https://intuit.taxaudit.com/

This is where you can purchase FULL Audit Defense through the statute of limitations. It is cheaper, $39.99 for an individual return, and more comprehensive. In addition, if you have purchased via TurboTax in years prior, this is where all of your audit defense agreements live. You can view your past purchases and the terms of those agreements by setting up a login using your existing account#. To get your account# call 1-877-829-9695, click 2, to purchase, and they will find your information.

All the best to everyone out there!

bolster

Level 2

The mystery deepens:

If you buy Audit Defense from intuit.taxaudit.com - the charge is $39.99

On the other hand, if you use your same membership/login information as above, BUT log in through taxaudit.com (no "intuit" before taxaudit.com) then you get charged $49.99.

The membership agreement for both ways seems to show that the "membership" duration is for the statute of limitations - 3 years for federal, and 4 years for state.

Given how misleading and deceptive Intuit/Turbotax has been - its probably more prudent to pay $ 10 more and avoid intuit.taxaudit.com altogether and avoid getting a "1 year" membership that you only find out about later.

earth777

Level 5

so i bought this week directly from TT for Tax year 2025 for $60.. did not realize it is one year membership only. then i went on the taxaudit.com site, created an account and purchased the ones for the prior years for 39.99 ea. (5 yrs 2020 - thru 2024).. was comparing the agreements between the 2 purchases and realized the following

Expiration Date of Membership: The Expiration Date
of Membership is based on the Acceptance Date. If the
Acceptance Date is on or prior to the initial IRS due date of the
tax return without regard to an extension (typically April 15th),
the Expiration Date of Membership shall be the initial due date
of the tax return for the subsequent tax year (typically April
15th). If the Acceptance Date is after the initial due date of the
tax return without regard to an extension (typically April 16th
through October 15th), the Expiration Date of Membership shall
be the extended due date of the tax return for the subsequent
tax year (typically October 15th)

Direct

Period of Membership: The Period of Membership begins
on the Acceptance Date and continues for as long as the
applicable tax return can be audited by the IRS or State

JNKLQ

Level 2

I just discovered it myself. That is some smarmy S__t. I'm tired of this kind of c__p.

Just out of curiosity, have you been audited before?

daveandlorenalberts

Level 2

It’s been years back, but yes, two years running. I was glad I had audit defense.

user17803421157

Level 2

I was just bitten by this.

I was under the impression that the tax audit coverage would be for the duration of the tax audit possibility. What a BIG disappointment as the IRS audit letter appeared 14 months after the purchase of the service.
This then becomes like a scam because emotions are high when receiving the letter and then to hear that I'm not covered heightens it more. But since I've now received a letter, Tax Audit is willing to provide coverage for $1000.

So, this Tax Audit Defense is meaningless from Turbo Tax/ Tax Audit and has a predatory feel to it.

Not impressed.