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Level 3

Question

Tax Audit Defense for only 1 year

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 16, 2025
15 replies
41 views

I have been purchasing Audit Defense through Turbo Tax for over 10 years. I have just discovered that, for tax years 2023 and 2024, the product sold to me through Turbo Tax was for only 1year. It was no longer effective after 4-15-2024 and 4-15 of the next year. The person at TaxAudit.com said there were 2 versions (one for a year and one for as long as you might be audited), and I had bought the 1 year version for the past 2 years. I couldn't believe it.

I just went through the order process again through Turbo Tax when you are ready to file, and they NEVER ask you what version of Audit Defense you want (1 year or the length of the statute of limitations on audits. NEVER,

So why is Turbo Tax selling me the 1 year version. WHO WOULD BUY AUDIT PROTECTION FOR ONE YEAR ANYWAY??? That makes no sense.

Has this happened top anyone else? What can we do. I now have 2 years of taxes with no audit protection,,,

TurboTax Home & Biz Windows

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Could that maybe be just the cutoff time just to buy it each year?

bobalbertfamilyAuthor

Level 3

No. I talked to TAXAUDIT directly. They refunded me the $60 I paid for the 2024 Audit Defense and then sold me the correct version for $39.99,

It says right on the audit certificate that you are supposed to print, that it had an expiration date of 4-15-2026 instead of for the statute of limitations for audits. My certificates for the tax years of 2023 and 2024 both had exiration dates or 1-15 of the next year, I also had Turbo tax BUSINESS and the same thing happened ther for tax years 2023 and 2024. Both expire on 4-15 of the next year. The 2023 ones already dropped off my TAXAUDIT history and say there is no coverage for that year.

This is not good

bobalbertfamilyAuthor

Level 3

I just had to re-buy Audit Defense for 2023 through TaxAudit directly. And they only charged me $39.99 instead of $60. Turbo Tax charges $60 through Home and Business, eve if you just have a small business..

anyabr

Level 2

Yes, I just made this lovely discovery after getting an assessment notice on my 2024 return and trying to use audit defense for the first time after years of shelling out. This is utterly useless, no one would knowingly pay for audit coverage that expires before the IRS statue of limitation expires! And now I'm stuck wrangling with this on my own--so infuriating!

Mike9241

Level 15

this is from the web

In other words: The Audit Defense coverage ends 1 year after filling (or longer if you file before April 15th) Expiration Date of Membership: The Expiration Date of Membership is based on the Acceptance Date (seems contradictory and misleading if you file after 4/15 since i think they're saying the acceptance date must be on or before 4/15.

this would seem to indicate that if you filed your 2024 return by 4/15/2025 audit defense should be good through 4/15/2026. As a retired tax-pro, I'll withhold my opinion. many returns don't get audited until well after that one-year date. even sometimes more than 2 years.

Mike9241

b718

Level 2

I just received an IRS letter from my 2023 tax year. I went to have Audit Defense help and was told my coverage expired. Confused, I found this thread. Like most people here, I've had it for years, used it once before, and coverage was always for the statue of limitations. Since my coverage expired, Audit Defense wants $995 to help me with my issue, which defeats the whole point of having the coverage. So very angry and disappointed with Intuit for selling a sub-par product and not making it clear that it had changed in a substantial way from previous years, and the change has a severe impact financially. I'm likely going to file a complaint with the FTC for unfair business practices.

I went ahead and re-bought 2023 and 2024 coverage from Audit Defense directly, because they only sell the non-expiring version of their coverage, and will just buy from them directly in the future. I also complained to the Intuit Office of the President, as suggested by others.

This has ruin my trust in TurboTax and after having used it for decades, I'm going to consider moving to another tax product next year.

DoninGA

Level 15

@b718 Did you purchase Audit Defense for your 2023 tax return? If so, do you have proof of purchase? If so, whomever you spoke with was mistaken as you are covered by the Audit Defense agreement from the time of purchase through the typical end of the Statute of Limitations for the tax return as stated in the Full Audit Representation Membership Agreement - https://www.intuit.com/legal/terms/en-us/turbotax/full-audit-representation/

Acceptance Date: Acceptance Date is the date that Intuit Inc. receives your payment for the Full Audit Representation Plan in full. Your Acceptance Date appears on the membership certificate.
Statute of Limitations: Statute of Limitations is the time the IRS or State has to audit your tax return. The Statute of Limitations for the IRS is typically three years from the date of filing or the due date, whichever is later, and is typically four years for States.
Period of Membership: Period of Membership is the period commencing with the Acceptance Date and ending with the expiration of the typical Statute of Limitations period for the applicable tax return.

b718

Level 2

@DoninGA I did purchase Audit Defense for 2023 from Intuit. But Intuit no longer sells the coverage that expires with the statue of limitations. They now only sell a 1 year product, which is the entire point of this thread, Intuit changed it and didn't inform anyone, which left us uncovered with us knowing it.

If you bought Audit Defense from Intuit for 2023 or 2024, look at your membership packet on page 4, on the bottom left. It shows the expiration date, which for me is 4/15/2025. I bought it again directly from Audit Defense, and now my expiration date shows as "Statue of Limitations for audit".

BTW, the Intuit Office of the President called me today and reiterated what others have posted: they made a business decision to change it to one-year, and they appreciate my feedback. They also said they made this change two years ago, as if I should have known, but since it wasn't communicated, it's only as of 4/16/2025 that anyone would notice since the coverage is now expired. I expect the complaints will start to pile as this decision catches up with them.

night002

Level 2

SCAM ALERT: I had the same experience. After paying $45 for the version that TT offered me, I was shocked to discover that it covered me for only one year from the date of filing. Useless. The IRS does not even begin auditing until well after the close of the tax year.

When I called Audit Defense, they told me that the traditional product that I had purchased for the years prior to 2023 was still available, and valid for as long as audits were likely (seven years) and priced at only $39.95, as in the past.

The current product especially created for TT members is MORE expensive for LESS coverage.

rjtiii

Level 2

I just discovered this also happened to me. I have always bought the Audit Defense product as offered at the completion of my tax filing through TurboTax. Evidently a few years ago, seemingly 3, TT started the "Annual" version of Tax Audit, which expires, vs the "Standard" version, which does not expire. I had to pay extra to upgrade 3 of my years. It was not clear that TT had made this change in what was being offered.

ttt1001001

Level 2

I'm wondering if anyone had any luck with Intuit on this. Like others, I have realized TY2023 and TY2024 are only 1 year of coverage and would like to get either a refund from Intuit so I can purchase directly from TaxAudit, or some path to "upgrade" my 1yr coverage to full statute of limitations. I submitted a refund request through the Customer Service form, which was summarily rejected. I have not yet tried the "Office of the President" link. I see a couple of comments indicating it is also futile. Thanks in advance.

rparasur

Level 3

Writing to the "Office of the President" will not give

you your money back or give you a free upgrade, but you should call them at that link so that they know that their customers are unhappy.

jlecocq1

Level 2

Thanks for posting your question and for all the great responses! I had my audit defense accidentally cancelled and couldn't repurchase the product thru Turbotax again because it still said I had the support, and I came across this thread while trying to figure out how to purchase it again online. Thanks for clarifying the annual versus long term support and that it was changed for 2023 and 2024! I talked to Audit Defense and they confirmed that my 2023 audit defense had expired but everything before that was long term support. I made sure to buy both 2023 and 2024 support! It is definitely a better deal to get the product through Audit Defense for price and length of support. You are correct, Turbotax doesn't really make that clear when you spend $60 on Audit Defense that it expires. I'll just need to remember NOT to purchase it through Turbotax next year!

Best regards,

Joanne L

Kenaetna

Level 2

YES. This is totally unacceptable. Turbo tax needs to honor audit defense for the statue of limitations. This may be a time for a class action law suit.

DanG2020

Level 2

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up. During a support call today, the TT product support specialist, Andrea, menioned that Audit Defense was good for the duration the tax return could be audited by the IRA. This is consistent with the philosphy of keeping your documents and paper work for a minimum of 7 years. However, the Audit Defense popup a few minutes ago stated Audit Defense "Covers your return through the next year's April tax deadline". One year is a lot shorter than seven years.

I have purchased Audit Defense in the previous years. I alway thought I purchased coverage. for 7 years. At the moment, I don't know what TT sold me. I am beginning to wonder about TT's transparency on their products.

Dan

rjtiii

Level 2

I discovered this problem last summer (2025), contacted TaxAudit and had my tax defense subscription upgraded to cover the full statute of limitiations. At my expense of course. This year (March 2026), after investigating the current situation using an AI chatbot, I took its recommendation and declined the $60 tax defense offered through TurboTax. After my e-file was confirmed accecpted by the IRS, I went directly to the TaxAudit web site and through my existing account, signed up for full duration 2025 tax defense coverage, for $50. Is it possible that TT has reverted back to offering full duration coverage? Possibly. But I decided the safest option was to deal directly with TaxAudit, be assured that I got what I wanted, and save $10 vs the TT price!

cbuchanan01

Level 2

Horrible customer service. I am in the same position. It never had any options for multiple coverages. Same price as year before, receipt looks exactly the same. I have used turbo tax for over 20 years! NO CUSTOMER SUPPORT - trying to talk to a real person there is impossible. I am posting multiple concerns and complaints with their product. I need the president of TT to contact me!