TurboTax Over Charged Me to File

[Lanabanana101]

Hi there. I filed my 2019 taxes from the TurboTax mobile app. My taxes are extremely basic- all W2’s and ONE 1099-MISC form. I was charged $120 for the “self-employed product” plus the $50 CA state tax. On the app, I tried going back multiple times to change my pricing back to Deluxe and could not seem to find that option. I submitted a request to speak with a live agent, but after waiting about an hour (I was told the wait time would be 5 mins), I filed my taxes and was charged the total $170. I finally received the call and was told that it was my fault for submitting my return, not calling sooner, and using the desktop version since “the TurboTax app limits visibility to certain options such as clearing your pricing options and starting over”. So then is this product/app error?! This isn’t the first time I’ve been overcharged by TurboTax and I would like to know how I can be refunded the $60 difference from the Deluxe which I should have paid versus the $120 I paid for the “Self-Employed” (which I’m not!). Thanks. 

[xmasbaby0]

You say you had a 1099Misc---what was it for?  If you performed some work as an independent contractor then you needed Self-Employed to prepare a Schedule C for the expenses.  Online Deluxe would not have worked.  We do not know if you could have met the criteria to use Free File instead.  Maybe you could have filed for free.  it is unfortunate that you got in such a hurry to file that instead of waiting to ask questions and get the answers you went ahead and filed.  We could have helped here in the user forum if you had posted here.

If you qualify to use it, there is another full-featured free version of the software:

Try Free File: 

You qualify if your income was $36,000 or less, or $69,000 or less if active duty military, or if you qualify for Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

• https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program

And so you know --- the only way to downgrade to a lower version is to clear and start over--you cannot just move back to a cheaper version and leave all the data there.

Although we may sympathize if you could have used a cheaper version, no one in the user forum can adjust your fees or give you a refund.  It sounds like you already tried to talk customer support into that.  

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2893577-does-a-1099-misc-mean-i-m-self-employed

[Lanabanana101]

Thanks for responding. The 1099-MISC form was for a lawsuit settlement. From a previous employer which totaled much less than the $60 I’m now out. I didn’t perform any independent contractor work.

Yes, I was in a hurry to file my taxes because the deadline is approaching and wanted them submitted. I didn’t realize this forum existed until speaking to customer service nor did I realize it would be this difficult to speak to someone about getting a refund. I tried speaking to customer service but the woman was very rude and said she couldn’t transfer me to anyone who could assist with a refund. She also informed me the only way to downgrade is to completely start over which, I mentioned in my original post, I didn’t see an option to do from the Mobile App.

Are there any other steps I can take, or am I out $60 now?

[xmasbaby0]

Since only customer support can issue a refund, you are probably out the $60.  You can try calling in again and hope for a nicer rep.....Use the word "billing" in your request for help--not "refund."

To call TurboTax customer support

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time   Monday - Friday