tpg return less

[Critter-3]

Did you buy the audit protection package maybe ?  Is the audit protection agreement/information also in the PDF ?   Or did you upgrade to a higher package ... does your program still say Basic? 

Going forward, if you need a state program,  buy the Deluxe version to start with to save a few $$ and never use the refund processing option ever ... that is a total rip off. 

[dimi1119]

I believe that the second credit card charge was to upgrade the cd desktop version from basic to deluxe (which included 1 free state)

and the third payment on the credit card was something that the turbo tax software said that I needed to make during the final steps of the return process.  it gave me the option to have it deducted from my return or to pay it right away, and i chose to pay it right away with a credit card.

[dimi1119]

"Going forward, if you need a state program,  buy the Deluxe version to start with to save a few $$ and never use the refund processing option ever ... that is a total rip off. "

I did indeed make the second payment to upgrade to deluxe from the basic desktop version.

And at NO point was i ever asked to OPT IN to the refund processing option.  Had I been asked I would HAVE NEVER agreed to it.  And I filled out my return SUPER meticulously.  I would have seen them asking me for it.  I have no clue how they slipped that in without my knowledge.

[dimi1119]

I just read the fine print in the "Refund Processing Agreement" Page of the Turbo Tax pdf file. 

It states:

"THIS FEE IS COLLECTED ONLY AT THE TIME THE REFUND(S) OCCURS. YOU CAN
AVOID THIS FEE AND NOT USE THE REFUND PROCESSING SERVICE BY INSTEAD PAYING THE
APPLICABLE TURBOTAX FEES TO INTUIT INC. BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD AT THE TIME YOU FILE YOUR
2021 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN(S) AND ELECTING TO HAVE YOUR REFUND(S) DIRECTLY
DEPOSITED IN YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT OR MAILED TO YOU."

I did indeed pay the applicable turbotax fees to intuit inc by credit card at the time i filed my 2021 federal income tax return.  and i did indeed elect to have my refunds directly deposited. 

so therefore, i have NO CLUE why i was still charged those processing fees.

[VolvoGirl]

Look at my screenshot again.  People go too fast at the end to file and just get clicking through on the right bottom box to continue.  But that box is to deduct the fee.   Many people have missed that.  That trips them up.  

[Critter-3]

Well there is nothing you can do about the fees since you agreed to all of them.  What I can do for you is give you some info for the future ... first buy the deluxe version WITH THE STATE only since you need to file a state return  and then do NOT get sucked into paying more to upgrade the program since deluxe can and does handle all  of your tax needs ...  all downloaded programs can handle all forms.  Although they try to upsell you by saying the upgraded program can "assist" you better it is not needed at all. 

And the Audit protection is a racket as well ... if you file a true and accurate return you have nothing to fear from an audit and you can pay for assistance if you ever do need it.  The best thing to do is REVIEW the entire return (more than once )  BEFORE you file it ... sleep on it and look again the next day.  Only when you feel comfortable should you file it.  

And lastly ... if you qualify ... use one of the IRS FREE FILE options ... for 2021 your AGI had to be $73K or less...

There are still eight various software providers who will participate in the Free File program but they will not be available until sometime in January----so if you want to use one of them---WAIT.

Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free:

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

[dimi1119]

thank you again, but which screen shot are you referring to. because the one you posted, it says....

"how do you want to pay"

Pay with federal refund

or

to pay with credit card.

and i chose to pay with my credit card. so then why was the "processing fee" still charged again. where was the option to "remove" it

[dimi1119]

that's exactly what i did

i made the initial purchase of $42.65 (turbotax desktop basic) +  the second payment for $31.99 (deluxe upgrade, inc 1 free state) = $74.64

and the third payment was  on that final page for $47.98 (where i opted to pay for it with credit card)

and i checked my return maybe like 20 times before submitting it

WHERE OH WHERE was the information about charging me those processing fees from tpg. NO WHERE did i see them. and even for my final check through, i did it together with my brother, who also did not notice anything about those processing fees.

[Critter-3]

To contact TurboTax customer service/support use their contact website during business hours.  If the problem concerns any type of refund for fees, use the key words billing issues and do Not use the word Refund or you will get a phone number for tax refunds.

Submit your question/problem during business hours and then use the option for Call (a phone number will be provided for Call) to speak directly with a TurboTax agent –

https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/ 

[dimi1119]

Thank you!

I actually did reach a turbo tax live person a few weeks ago and told them this issue specifically.  The only thing they told me is to call tpg and they gave me their number.  I called them like 4 times, believe it or not, each time i was on hold for like 1.5 hours, I KID YOU NOT.  Never got through to an agent at tpg.  

[NCperson]

@dimi1119 on the $47.98...... just a thought 

did you e-file the state tax return? how many states? TT charges to efile state returns (federal is free and NY is free)

$47.98 sounds like a lot for an efile, but if there were two states?????   

[dimi1119]

yes so here is how it broke down,

i had federal, nj state, ny state (live in nj, work in nyc)

when i purchased desktop basic (1st purchase), then upgraded to deluxe (2nd purchase), which included 1 free state

then i made a 3rd purchase for the 2nd state.

so that's where those charges were from

but i don't remember anywhere in the desktop version, that it asked me to opt into the tpg refund processing fee. NO WHERE.

again, the fine print on the "agreement" page in the pdf file state:

"THIS FEE IS COLLECTED ONLY AT THE TIME THE REFUND(S) OCCURS. YOU CAN
AVOID THIS FEE AND NOT USE THE REFUND PROCESSING SERVICE BY INSTEAD PAYING THE
APPLICABLE TURBOTAX FEES TO INTUIT INC. BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD AT THE TIME YOU FILE YOUR
2021 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN(S) AND ELECTING TO HAVE YOUR REFUND(S) DIRECTLY
DEPOSITED IN YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT OR MAILED TO YOU."

let's focus on the part that says,  "you can avoid this fee and not use the refund processing service by instead paying the applicable turbotax fees to intuit inc by credit or debit card at the time of you file your 2021. 

which is EXACTLY what i did. so how is it possible that i was still charged those processing fees.

[VolvoGirl]

New York is free to efile.  All other states are $20 to efile (25 after March 1).  So you had the NJ state efile fee deducted from your refund for which there is a Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge.  To opt out and pay it with a credit card you would have needed to go back through the File tab and change to pay by credit card .

[dimi1119]

"So you had the NJ state efile fee deducted from your refund for which there is a Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge.  To opt out and pay it with a credit card you would have needed to go back through the File tab and change to pay by credit card ."

$42.65 (turbotax desktop basic) +  the second payment for $31.99 (deluxe upgrade, inc 1 free state) = $74.64

and the third payment was  on that final page for $47.98 (2nd state, new jersey) (where i opted to pay for it with credit card) <------- is this not the NJ state efile fee?.  if it is not, then what is this fee that turbo tax charges??? I would assume that if i paid this fee with my credit card that it would not be deducted from my refund.

[VolvoGirl]

No.  The credit card charge was to buy the NJ state PROGRAM download.  Then there is a separate charge to efile each state return, except New York is free to efile.  Or you can print and mail state for free.