What do you think about the fee this year to have your refund sent by Direct Deposit to your bank?

[vdholbrook]

I have never been charged before in all years I have been with TT.  This will most definitely be my last.

[DoninGA]

The option to have the TurboTax account fess deducted from the federal tax refund has been available for years.  It is an option only, not required at all.  You could have chosen to pay the account fees with a credit card and avoided the service charge for the optional service of having the fees deducted from the federal tax refund.

[vdholbrook]

I did NOT owe taxes.  I got a refund from both state and federal.  So therefore, there is no reason for them to take $39.99 from my refund for "Option to pay with your refund" as stated on the confirmation of your payment option sheet. Then I was charged $39.99 for state and $39.99 for federal fees (which I have never paid in the past) for a grand total of $119.97 that states will be deducted from my refund.  I am very disgusted and will never recommend or use Turbo Tax again.  They do NOT tell you up front that there will be fees until you have already spent hours entering all the information.  I am very disappointed.  I feel like I have been ripped off this year.  I have used Turbo Tax for years.  This year was a nightmare!!!!

[fanfare]

The fees you mention have been around forever. you must have been a free filer in the past.
with the new tax forms required for 2018, TurboTax found a way to charge you. So that's that.

[BrandiLO · Accepted solution]

There is not a fee to have your refund deposited. The fee is only charged if you want to have your TurboTax fees paid by your refund instead of paying with a credit card when you file. To accomplish this your refund needs to be sent to Santa Barbara Tax Products Group https://www.sbtpg.com/, they take the fees you owe TurboTax and then they deposit your refund. The fee is for processing. If you pay with your credit card then your refund gets deposited directly by the IRS.  If you paid by credit card for your fees then you pay nothing additional.

[vdholbrook]

I have the receipt. I paid $39.99 for my federal tax fee and $39.99 for my state tax.  I got refunds on both and then there is a $39.99 charge that says option to pay with your refund, which I did NOT have to pay anything but their fees.  Also this was not revealed at the beginning until everything was complete, so at that point you had no option but to accept it or do it all over again somewhere else.   They are taking $119.97 out of my refund it says on the confirmation of payment  so you add it up.    Needless to say, this will be my last year.  Also it did not state anywhere that there would be charges this year for filing!!!  Very disappointed.

[fanfare]

do you want direct deposit or not?
What does any of this have to do with a fee to select direct deposit?

[vdholbrook]

I am getting direct deposit of my refund.  I do NOT owe taxes.  I may have stated it wrong but I was charged $39.99 for "option to pay with your refund" as stated on my confirmation of payment option.  Why am I paying with my refund when I do not owe taxes!!!!! If I did not state it clearly before I was charged $119.97 which is btoker down as $39.99 for state, $39.99 for federal and $39.99 for the option to pay with your refund.  In all years past that I used Turbo Tax I was always given the option to "UPGRADE" to deluxe.  This year you had NO option.  If you didn't agree to pay you could not continue.  I just don't understand what the $39.99 fee for "Option to pay with your refund" is?  They are charging me $39.99 to take the $39.99 fee I owe for federal and the $39.99fee  I owe for state out of my refund???????????  Somehow I don't understand this!!!

[fanfare]

you are getting a refund and that's the point. TurboTax has a fee and you must pay it or you can't file.
Yes if you don't want to pay immediately it is another 39.99 to have the cost taken out later when your refund goes through.

[BrandiLO]

@vdholbrook Depending on what your tax situation was last year, you might need to use new tax forms to claim the same deductions, credits, or forms of income. Some of the situations that are now in TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Live Deluxe, instead of in Free Edition, include:
• Student loan interest deduction
• Retirement savings contribution credit
• Education credits
•Child & dependent care credit
Free filing is still an option but not for everyone and not for everyone who qualified in previous years.

[avkoch]

I purchased TUrboTax Delux and I am having the same issue.  I previously filed my daughter's return and she was not charged a fee for processing or direct deposit of her refund; however, I am being charged, as well as for e-filing PA which I thought I had one free state e-file.  I've never payed fees at time of filing in excess of my TurboTax product purchase fee.  I will not use this product again.  There are other free products and this was not disclosed.