state e-file - is there any way to pay this in advance, outside of the program?

I have run into terrible, awful, horrible, hair-pulling problems in the past just trying to pay for e-file of state return at the end of preparing the return. i am also reading tons of other people who have problems with this, trying to get support here. why?

 

Isn't there a way to get the program setup to already have state e-file paid and built in, so one doesn't have to make this horrible left turn in the middle of the program to pay the extra fee within the program? It is so awful.

 

I'm about to buy turbo tax again, and i sure would like to buy the state e-file included in advance, and avoid the dreaded internal state efile pay monster...   thanks. - tom