If the Turbo Tax fee was not deducted from my Federal return as I elected to have done, how do I resolve this w/o paying out of pocket?

If your refund is not enough to allow you to choose refund processing and have the fees deducted from your refund, then your option is to pay for the fees using a credit or debit card before you e-file.

 

Or...

Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free.  There are 8  free software versions available from the IRS Free File site

 

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

 

Or—if you live in certain states you may be eligible to use the new IRS Direct File

 

 

In Filing Season 2025, Direct File will be available in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 

 

https://directfile.irs.gov/

 

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629

 

Did you already get your refund?  Or did you get a email from Turbo Tax to pay the fees?

 

If the IRS is taking too long to send your refund you still have to pay the fees in time, 36 days after your original estimated refund date.

 

See What if the IRS reduces your refund or delays it.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/payments/help/what-if-my-federal-refund-isn-t-enough-to-cover-my-turbotax-fees/00/26313

 

Then when the IRS does send your refund they won't take the fees out again.

 

And, Why you got charged,

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/charges-and-fees/help/why-was-my-bank-account-auto-debited-for-turbotax-fees/00/26102

 

You should have received about 4 emails asking for the fees.  If you don't pay they will debit your account.  You had to agree to it.