I am trying to e-file, and do not want audit defense, but the $44.99 is being auto-added and the only option I am presented with is to "pay with my credit card" or "pay with my refund". I don't want to do either, but can't continue??
Are you a California filer, or a non-California filer? The method to remove Audit Defense varies depending on your location.
And are you efiling a state return? If so, how did you choose to pay the 24.99 state efile fee?
Audit defense is part of the MAX benefits and you can remove it by following the instructions below:
:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4842224
However, if you reside in California as long as you have not filed, here's how to first remove Premium Services and then pay by credit/debit card. Do not pay by credit/debit card before you remove Premium Services, or it will still charge you for it. Here is the link to assist you with removing Premium services from your Turbo Tax return: https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3625003
The user is using the desktop version for Windows. The instructions are different than those for Online.
I live in California and have the same problem using Turbo Tax 2018 Desktop version, yet all the help screens I am sent to apparently show the Online version, which is completely unhelpful! I finally gave up and printed then mailed my return (Saving me the $24.99 State eFile fee.) I've been using your software for over 20 years, but this kind of bait and switch (or lazy programming) is uncalled for. You are probably losing a long term customer for such devious behavior, (making it impossible to avoid paying $44.99 for an unwanted feature.) Thanks for nothing Turbo Tax.
Davec95
Sorry you had trouble. I know you have now filed on paper so this info will be moot, but may be explanatory and may help other users who find this thread. I don't work for TurboTax, but volunteer in the user forum.
You said you are in California. Did you originally choose to pay the 24.99 state efile fee out of your Federal refund? If so, in California, that pay-out-of refund option is bundled in a package called "Premium Services" for 44.99 which automatically includes Audit Defense as a benefit. So anyone in California who chooses to pay the state efile fee out of the Federal refund ends up having Audit Defense. For California filers the way to get rid of it is to pay the 24.99 fee by credit/debit card and thus avoid the "Premium Services Bundle."
Even when one doesn't choose to pay out of the Fed refund, it's also possible that one could add Audit Defense by the usual method that non-California filers users. In that case it is removed by removing a checkmark on one of the screens in the REVIEW tab in the AUDIT PROTECTION section. On a screen after the Audit Risk meter, way down at the bottom is a place to enter or remove a checkmark for Audit Defense.
I posted this earlier but it didn't go through right.
You have to read all the screens slowly and carefully or you can click on the wrong button to continue in the Desktop program.
if you want to efile state for the 24.99 and don't want to have it deducted from your federal refund and avoid the 39.99 Refund Processing Service charge (44.99 in California) watch for this screen.
I am trying to e-file a return but it keeps on charging that Turbo Tax Service of $45.00 and it will only give you an
option to pay by credit card or deduct from my Federal refund. There should be an option also that you don't need that service. Otherwise, you will not be able to proceed with the e-file process unless you just agree what the two options are.
Thank you for your immediate assistance.
Do you have any other TurboTax fees being deducted from your tax refund? If you selected to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, there may be an additional fee for the Refund Processing Service.
You can view a breakdown of your TurboTax charges by signing in to your online return. Once you have signed in and selected to continue your return, select Tools from the My Account drop-down list in the upper right corner. In the pop-up window, select My Fees to get a breakdown of your TurboTax charges.
Please click How do I remove the Premium Services bundle to learn more.
@anhernando52 Are you using the Desktop program or online version? And I bet you are in California?
In California Desktop program to remove Audit Defense and Premium Services you have to change to pay the $20 or 25 state efile fee by credit card and not by having it deducted from your federal refund. Or print and mail state for free. Go back through the File tab again and change to pay with a credit card. Then if Audit Defense is still there you can remove it.
If you are in California you need to remove the Premium Service first
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-remove-premium-services/00/26266
@ anhernando52
If you are using the desktop product, the info above by @TerukoL about checking your online account won't apply to you. That answer was for Online TurboTax. The title of this thread is about TurboTax desktop (CD/download), so in this answer I'll assume that you have the desktop product since you are in this thread.
When using the desktop product, first of all it's important to know if you are efiling a state return, and are needing to pay a $20 state efile fee.
Secondly, what is it charging you $45 for--Audit Defense or for Premium Services (a California product that includes Audit Defense and the "pay out of refund" option)?
Thirdly, it's important to know if you are a California filer or not in order to figure out what your $45 service fee is for. If you are in California, and if you chose to pay TurboTax fees out of your Federal refund, it will automatically add "Premium Services" for $45 which includes Audit Defense as a side benefit. If you are in California, and it has added "Premium Services", then paying with credit/debit card instead of paying out of refund "should" automatically remove Premium Services (and thus the included Audit Defense and $45 service fee) when you continue past that screen.
If you are not in California, and if it's trying to charge you for Audit Defense at $45 that you don't want, you need to manually remove Audit Defense. We can tell you how to go back and remove Audit Defense from your order. Click on the REVIEW tab, then go to the Audit Protection subtab. Go past the Audit Risk Meter until you get to the screen below where it can be removed.
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Found out that Turbo tax does this bogus $45 charge every year , even though we opted out of their Audit Defense program. I think it’s highway robbery & surely not legal to do a bait & switch on consumers. I am never using Intuit/ Turbo tax again.
wanda h
The work around I found is to file the federal return first and then the State.
@willow25751 Please follow the steps that mesquitebean has provided above. Additionally, you may review your fees by following the steps listed here.
I'm file for California, and I bought Turbo Tax at Costco.
I need a code to remove the $45 charge
All I need just get the stupid code to finish my taxes.
I need the " State of File Confirmation Number" to finished my taxes?
I'm sick and tired for the studied Turbo Tax , that I have to call you for the past two or three years
@mtawfik01: Please see the response here from SweetieJean to assist you in completing your return:
If you are in California and choose to pay the state efile fee of 24.99 out of the Federal refund, then that requires the addition of Premium Services for 44.99. Premium Services is a bundle of benefits that includes Audit Defense, ID monitoring and restoration, the ability to pay out of the Federal refund, etc. If you are being billed for Premium Services (with Audit Defense), then you were not being billed for standalone optional purchase of Audit Defense. And thus you cannot remove Audit Defense independently by the usual method. You have to either decline or remove Premium Service (and thus Audit Defense) by paying upfront with a credit/debit card instead of paying out of the Federal refund.
You may not have actually ended up with Premium Services if you didn't actually select to pay your fee out of your Federal refund. It may just be showing that and offering you the possibility of paying by that method. If you are going to pay upfront with a credit/debit card, you can just continue to pay the 24.99 on subsequent screens, and that will prevent it from adding Premium Services (and Audit Defense.)
i.e., the correct way to remove Audit Defense in California when it is bundled in Premium Services is to choose to simply pay your 24.99 state efile fee by credit/debit card. If you chose to pay the fee out of your Federal refund, go back and change it to a credit/debit card instead. Or if you haven't chosen to pay out of your refund, simply proceed forward and pay by credit/debit card. When you review your order, be sure it is only charging you the 24.99 plus possible sales tax.
This feels and function like a very nuanced TRAP! It should not be this complicated or hidden to refuse or unknowingly choose a service! Folks use this software one-time a year. The most experienced turbotax user could not know how to avoid this and would be fooled. If this is how turbotax now functions...I'll have to find a different tax software.