Old time TurboTax user trying to find the "best" price for TurboTax with a State income tax return.
In prior years it seems some of the less expensive store versions of TurboTax with State end up costing more to E-file than if you purchased directly from TurboTax. Its always been you get to file 5 federal returns with the Federal version of TurboTax. As a single person or married filing jointly. 5 returns is more than enough. As the kids get older and get a job, you begin to use the additional "free" e-file federal returns. However, you get to pay for each State E-file return. This year TurboTax is showing each State tax return is $49 with free e-file. I've also seen that this year's price to file a State return with TurboTax is $25. So does the $49 price from TurboTax include the same 5 e-file returns like the federal returns or is "free" for the first return and $25 for each return after the first free return?
I see the big club stores (Sam's Costco, BJ's ) come with a $10 credit to the cost of the State e-file or may be applied to other TurboTax expenses. The second state e-file is at full price. This year all software needs to be downloaded (no more CD's) from Intuit. It appears that it would be less expensive if the state version is purchased direly from Intuit if the price includes the same 5 free federal returns. If not, the less expensive way is to purchase from Sam's at $55.99 and then pay for each State Return.
