topic I still need help solving this problem. My tax return is... in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

How do I opt out of Audit Defense?

Lynn770 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:27 GMT

I can't figure out how to opt out of Audit Defense. I even select to get it and then have it removed, but the only option I can see is to pay for it with my refund or by credit card. I don't want to do either. Please help. This has been very frustrating, and Turbo Tax does not have a good help desk system - no way to speak to someone.

I saw your answer at your help desk, and I tried followin...

Lynn770 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:29 GMT

I saw your answer at your help desk, and I tried following those directions. When I clicked on file I did not find anything like step 1 or start. What I saw did not follow your directions or steps. Please help.

Can I get someone to respond to my problem?

Lynn770 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:50 GMT

Can I get someone to respond to my problem?

I still need help solving this problem. My tax return is...

Lynn770 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:51 GMT

I still need help solving this problem. My tax return is complete and I want to remove Audit Defense, but the system will no let me. Please reply today. Thank you. Don't you have a chat room where someone can lead me through the solution to this problem?

I am having the same problem and may not use turbo tax again

whimsi24 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:53 GMT

I am having the same problem and may not use turbo tax again

I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able t...

Lynn770 — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:54 GMT

I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able to have someone call me from Turbo Tax call me and walk me through it. As I remember, there were only two options - pay for Audit Defense with your credit card, or with your refund. That seems like you are being forced into purchasing Audit Defense. But the person who helped on the phone walked me through it and I got it resolved. TT definitely needs to change how they do this. They also need to make it easier to get in touch with someone to help you, rather than these canned solutions/answers to questions. I don't even remember how I finally got in touch with a live person, but when I did, she was very helpful.

You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

AkinaLO — Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:34:55 GMT

You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Please follow the instructions below to remove MAX Benefits. https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4842224

Re: I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able t...

jvhermann — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:09:33 GMT

These solutions do not work! I have also been on the phone with Tech Support and they also have no solution. There is a glitch int the systems that is effectively holding us for ransom to e-file our taxes. They are essentially forcing us to purchase Audit Defense at $45 before we can proceed. SURELY there are enough users having this same problem that it warrants Intuits attention. I simply do not know how to get them to listen. Any ideas?

Re: Can I get someone to respond to my problem?

jvhermann — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:10:01 GMT

Re: I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able t...

LindaB1993 — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:16:43 GMT

This is the recommended procedure at this time. There is no time-frame yet for a program fix to this necessary adjustment.

Re: Can I get someone to respond to my problem?

whimsi24 — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 07:00:26 GMT

I had the problem last year ( I thought). I was reading it wrong. Look at it again and the prompts.

Re: I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able t...

jvhermann — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 18:19:40 GMT

It seems that you are correct in saying that one is FORCED to pay $45 for Audit Defense in order to file electronically. I have talked to 2 representative and they are as confused as I am. THIS IS A PROGRAMMING GLITCH THAT IS CAUSING A LOT OF FRUSTRATION. WHY SHOULD WE PAY FOR A LEGAL EXPERT TO SUPPORT AN AUDIT THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. I have an extremely simple tax return, so I am surely not paying for this service.

THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED.

Re: I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able t...

DonnaLO — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 19:42:50 GMT

If the answer provided by AkinaLO does not resolve your problem and

you continue to have problems please contact Technical Support using this form:

https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

Re: How do I opt out of Audit Defense?

TerukoL — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 17:19:54 GMT

You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. as long as you haven't already paid for it. Please click Can I remove MAX? to learn more.

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

rwonders — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 14:50:26 GMT

This is an incorrect solution. You do not know what you are talking about. There is NO left hand menu on 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe for selecting the "file" option. The only file option is at the top menu bar and it does not contain anything remotely similar to what you have described for removing Max Benefits or Audit defense. One should not have to go through this to opt out of obviously deceitful marketing scheme to get one to pay for a service they do not want. Not sure how one gets to be a "Turbo Tax Specialist" but Intuit needs much better training for those trying to help with issues/questions. Can you please offer a real remedy for opting out of this useless audit defense FOR 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe.

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

DoninGA — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:08:05 GMT

@rwonders wrote:

This is an incorrect solution. You do not know what you are talking about. There is NO left hand menu on 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe for selecting the "file" option. The only file option is at the top menu bar and it does not contain anything remotely similar to what you have described for removing Max Benefits or Audit defense. One should not have to go through this to opt out of obviously deceitful marketing scheme to get one to pay for a service they do not want. Not sure how one gets to be a "Turbo Tax Specialist" but Intuit needs much better training for those trying to help with issues/questions. Can you please offer a real remedy for opting out of this useless audit defense FOR 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe.

The Only way to have Audit Defense added to your order when using the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions is for the user to click on the blue button labeled Add Audit Defense to My Order

To remove Audit Defense from the order you need to click on File at the top of the desktop program screen. Click on File a Return or Continue. Go through the steps of the File section until you arrive on the Payment screen. Under the price for Audit Defense click on the blue Remove link.

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

andakaka — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 06:06:57 GMT

Steps provided by DoninGA did not work. None of the steps provided on this thread work for me. I am using desktop deluxe version. I am still FORCED to pay $44.99 otherwise the tool just won't proceed. I had *almost* paid it but then I did a Google search to land here.. Knowing that this is an actual tool glitch (?) so many are facing, this is really shady on behalf of Intuit. When will you folks fix this? I am still getting TurboTax updates every week.

UPDATE: Clearly a misunderstanding on my part (which I believe many are having here). When we hit next, it shows $44.99 in BOLD (which is also the amount one has to pay for audit defense). And this is where the confusion is. I still need to make payment for the state tax e-file.. and the $44.99 is saying that IF you want to pay that via federal refund, you need to upgrade to premium for this fee. I didn't read this since the prices exactly matched and made me believe I was forced to buy audit defense. May be something to be fixed by the UI team since I am not the only one who had this confusion.

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

mesquitebean — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 10:05:53 GMT

@ andakaka

It looks like you figured it out, but I'll explain a little more for the benefit of others. This confusing situation with Premium Services arises only for California filers, as explained below. I admit that section is confusing. To me it's showing Premium Services (with Audit Defense included) is 44.99, while add-on Audit Defense is 59.99. I'm not sure when @DoninGA made that image above, but it looks like the Audit Defense add-on now costs more than that shown in his image.

If you are in California and choose to pay the state efile fee of 24.99 out of the Federal refund, then that requires Premium Services for 44.99. Premium Services is a bundle of benefits that includes Audit Defense, ID monitoring and restoration, the ability to pay out of the Federal refund, etc. If you were being billed for Premium Services, then you were not being billed for standalone optional purchase of Audit Defense, and thus you cannot remove Audit Defense independently. You have to either decline or remove Premium Service by paying upfront with credit/debit card instead of paying out of the Federal refund.

You may not have actually ended up with Premium Services if you didn't actually select to pay by that method. But for those who end up in it without realizing it, the correct way to remove Premium Services in California and thus decline all the benefits included in it is to choose to simply pay your 24.99 state efile fee by credit/debit card. When you review your order, be sure it is only charging you the 24.99 plus sales tax.

The method to remove Audit Defense discussed in the image above is only for users who electively or accidentally added Audit Defense to their order as an add-on option, and does not apply to California users who are being offered or chose Premium Services in order to pay fees out of the Federal refund.

For those (mostly non-California) filers who want to remove add-on Audit Defense chosen in error (i.e., not the Premium bundle in California invoked by "paying out of Fed refund"), they can remove it like the image shown by DoninGA above. OR they can go to the REVIEW tab, select the subtab "Audit Protection", navigate past the Audit Risk meter, and then scroll way down on the Audit Defense screen and decline Audit Defense.

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

Glschuetz — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:51:54 GMT

I just went through this yesterday. I spoke with a polite customer rep for about 40 mins. because my AT&T firewall and McAfee wouldn’t allow mirroring. The rep also was told this was a CA problem. Finally. After not getting a solution, I had the idea of jyst advancing ahead, FINALLY reasoning that usually you have to approve transactions in a cart and I had not given my credit card or selected charge to Federal. Lo and behold! It only charged me the CA 24.99 (or whatever the charge was) and NOT the audit protection. I filed both electronically and all is fine. I’m glad I’m not the only one who was frustrated by this but I hope to prevent others from going through such angst. I gave a negative customer satisfaction to Intuit. I think they have that on the Deluxe download to squeeze out many thousand of extra bucks from us consumers. I just got stubborn and thought I may as well have gone to an in-person tax professional versus them for how clunky the program was and how bad that second to the last screen was!

Re: You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Pl...

kyanite1 — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:29:11 GMT

I found a solution!

I talked to a support rep for about an hour. She asked me to try things left and right, with no vail. Then finally, I found the solution.

Under REVIEW tab, click Audit Protection. It will tell you you audit risk with a color bar. Click Continue, you should see the page in picture below. Just below the red shield, you should see a button with some fine prints to opt out ( I don't remember exact wording). It worked for me. I live in TX, no State tax (Horay!). So the State Tax route did work for me.