topic Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

hoffs — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:13:49 GMT

I have looked at the other posts and I still don't understand. I purchased the software - Home and business version. Now I have to pay a fee to efile my federal return? $40.00? I don't recall this last year. Everything I have read about this fee references using the Free Turbo Tax. What am I missing?

Am I better to consider another product to avoid the $40.00 fee to efile?

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:01:08 GMT

No-----if you are using the CD/download there is a $20 fee to e-file the state return. Do NOT choose to pay that $20 fee by having it taken out of your federal refund or you get that EXTRA $40 "refund processing fee." You do not have to do that. Pay the state e-file fee upfront with a credit or debit card before you e-file. Or avoid the state e-file fee altogether by printing and mailing the state return.

What is Refund Processing Service?

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:02:10 GMT

E-filing fee in desktop software

Did you purchase desktop software with state software included? They sell Deluxe both with and without state software--so you have to be careful which one you choose. And even if it does have the state software download included, that is for preparing the state. There is an extra fee to e-file the state. Before March 1 that fee is $20; after March 1 it increases to $25. You can avoid the state e-file fee if you print and mail the state instead of e-filing it.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

hoffs — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 01:24:52 GMT

I have not e filed anything yet. Is there someplace I can look to see where i may have answered that incorrectly on the state or should i delete state and start over? Thanks - appreciate the help.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

hoffs — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 01:27:14 GMT

i bought home and business. But not sure at this point about the state. Will live with paying that, but NOT federal return

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

JulieS — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 16:29:02 GMT

Yes, Xmasbaby is right. When you buy TurboTax Home and Business, the cost of the software includes five federal e-files and one state download.

You may be charged extra to e-file the state.

It sounds like you may have done your return in the Online product rather than using the software you purchased. When you start, do you open a software program, or do you sign in online?

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

jchale3331 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:21:05 GMT

Those 5 federal returns are not free anymore, $40 buck refund processing fee now for each return, This will be my last Turbo Tax filing. After several calls finally got to talk to a real person and she confirmed this ripoff tactic.

BYE TURBO TAX!!!

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

jchale3331 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:23:57 GMT

Nope, its $40 buck REfund filing fee. No more free 5 fed efiles

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

jchale3331 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:25:49 GMT

Not FREE anymore $40 filing fee for Fed refunds

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

DoninGA — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:28:56 GMT

@jchale3331 wrote:

Those 5 federal returns are not free anymore, $40 buck refund processing fee now for each return, This will be my last Turbo Tax filing. After several calls finally got to talk to a real person and she confirmed this ripoff tactic.

BYE TURBO TAX!!!

The TurboTax desktop editions come with 5 free federal tax return e-files. There is a state tax return e-file fee that is currently $20. That charge can be avoided by printing and mailing the state tax return.

In the File section of the program if you are e-filing the state tax return, there is an option to have the $20 state e-file fee paid from the federal tax refund. The charge for this totally optional service is $40 and DOES NOT have to be used. You can pay the $20 state e-file fee with your credit for no further charge.

All you needed to do is select Pay with Credit Card on the screen presented to you.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:29:29 GMT

@jchale3331 No one can see what software you used. If you used the CD/download then your only extra fee would have been a $20 state e-file fee, which you could avoid if you mailed the state return instead of e-filing it.

If you used online TurboTax, you pay for every federal and every state return that you prepare and file---unless you have very simple returns and use the Free Edition.

There are no "five free federal e-files" with online----if you are using Deluxe or higher.

So.....what software did you use?

We see people get confused and they keep logging in to online software which will require them to pay at the end. You need to use the desktop software. One way to tell if you are using the right software---your tool bar. Online software has the toolbar in a black vertical column on the left side of the screen. Desktop software has the tools up on the top of your TT screen.

How can I see my TurboTax fees?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565973-how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

VolvoGirl — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:34:35 GMT

No you misunderstand. In the Desktop program it is $20 to efile each State return. THEN if you want to have the state efile fee (or any extra services you bought) deducted from your federal refund there is an Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge (45 in California). Which you can avoid by paying the state efile fee with a credit card.

You have to go through the File tab SLOWLY. People get going to fast and clicking on the right corner box to continue. But you have to click on the left box to pay with a credit card to avoid the fee. See the screenshot on this one

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/why-can-t-i-remove-premium-service-benefits-from-my-purchase/00/648359

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

StuFleming602 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:28:47 GMT

I paid just under $60.00 for the software, Then had to pay another $60 just to file my federal return.

Total scam, will never use it again.

So saying E-File is included is a total false hood.

I have left a negative review on Amazon where I purchased the software.

Oh and contacting support is a total waste of time, you wind up in chat land spinning in circles with some AI Generated Bot.
So I really don’t expect a reply,

I will never use another Intuit product again. The IRS.GOV web page says my e-file should be free of charge BTW.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

6269 — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:11:12 GMT

I was charged a filing fee for the federal return which was filed by mail

Please process credit to Carl Williams debit card

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

VolvoGirl — Sun, 14 Apr 2024 22:17:41 GMT

@6269 Did you use the Online version? The Online fees are to prepare the return whether you efile or print and mail. Sorry.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

lashleyd1 — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:35:36 GMT

I downloaded TurboTax to my desktop. Completed my federal and state taxes. When I efiled my taxes I expected a filing fee for my state, but I was blindsided by the $40 fee for e-filing my federal taxes! I will be searching for a different product next year.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

xmasbaby0 — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:50:02 GMT

@lashleyd1 Did you read this whole thread? If you read it you would recognize that you did not pay $40 to file your federal return. You paid an extra $40 to have the $25 state e-file fee deducted from your federal refund by a third party bank. Please scroll up and read through everything that is here--including a screen shot of the page where you could have chosen to pay using your own credit card. If you already e-filed, it is cold comfort now, since it is too late. If you are ever taken aback by fees----ask questions here in the user forum before you e-file so we can help you avoid that unnecessary refund processing fee.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

phdelessio — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 18:41:23 GMT

I bought Turbo Tax Premier. I am on my second of two returns I have worked on. I successfully filed my return, no problem. On my daughters return the software is trying to charge me a $40 Federal e-file fee, when the panel before said $0 for the Federal e-file and my software package clearly says 5 free Federal e-files. How do I get around this clear software bug?

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 18:46:02 GMT

Look very closely at those screens. One of them --on the left-- gives you the option to pay using a credit or debit card. The other box -- the one on the right-- gives the option to pay using your federal refund. Do NOT choose to pay using your refund. If you choose to pay the $25 state e-file fee using your refund, you add an EXTRA $40 fee to the $25!

Pay the state e-file fee using a credit or debit card before you e-file. Or...even better----choose to print and mail the state return and avoid the $25 state e-file fee and just pay for a stamp to mail it.

Re: Refund Processing Fee - Federal Return

phdelessio — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 18:46:13 GMT

I purchased Turbo Tax Premier, it clearly says 5 free Federal e-files on the package. This is not the state e-file charge for a second state, which I expect to see a $25 charge for that.