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@janetkjo wrote:

I am filling both Federal and California State .  The summary shows the federal filing is free and California is $20.00.  When I go to the next page it tells me the will deduct $44.00 from my federal refund.  I am using turbotax deluxe which i dowloaded .


You didn't really ask a question, so I'll assume you are asking how to proceed to pay only the $20 by credit/debit card with no additional charges.

 

When you went through the REVIEW tab and subtab Audit Protection, did you elect Audit Defense?   Even if you didn't elect it, if you are in California and you choose to pay your fee out of your Federal refund, Audit Defense will be added in as part of "Premium Services" which lets you pay out of your Federal refund, but for an extra fee of $45. 

 

I have no way to view the screens for California, but I presume it is a summary and offering you the choice to pay fees out of your Federal refund ("Premium Services") and thus also receive Audit Defense (which is included in that).    I would suspect it's not really saying you must use it.  I suspect it is just an option, and proceeding on to pay by credit/debit card should remove it (or did you already accidentally choose that option.)  

 

Have you proceeded far enough along to get a screen that asks "How do you want to pay?"  and has 2 prominent blue buttons at the bottom--one button for paying by credit/debit card and one button for paying out of the Federal refund? 

 

I think one of the forum helpers has some screen images of that section in regard to Premium Services and  paying by credit/debit card instead.

 

@VolvoGirl Are you able to assist this California filer when you are next in the forum?   Thanks!

 

Or if you accidentally chose the option to pay out of the Federal refund ("Premium Services"), walk through the screens again in the FILE section until you encounter the screen with the 2 blue buttons where you can choose to pay by credit/debit card.  That should remove Premium Services.

 

If you are in California, and if you choose to pay TurboTax fees out of your Federal refund, it will automatically add "Premium Services" for $45 which includes Audit Defense as a side benefit.    If you are in California, and don't want to pay that way and don't want Audit Defense, and it is trying to add "Premium Services" and Audit Defense, then proceeding on to the screen with the two buttons I mentioned above and choosing to pay with credit/debit card instead of paying out of refund "should" automatically remove Premium Services (and thus the included Audit Defense and the $45 service fee).

 

The important thing is do NOT actually efile until you are convinced you have paid $20 by credit/debit card.  If you are not offered to pay by credit/debit card at some point before actually efiling (i.e., before signing and transmitting), then report back.  You will have a harder time getting TurboTax Support to correct anything in retrospect once you have already filed.