topic Audit Defense opt out in After you file

Audit Defense opt out

michelle171 — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:34:41 GMT

I am trying to file my tax return and need to pay the $20 California filing fee. Either way I choose it makes me enter member information for Audit Defense. I have already selected that I do not want the product. There is no charge in my basket for the product but I still don't want to sign up for it.

Is there a way to get past these screens and not get signed up for it?

Re: Audit Defense opt out

mesquitebean — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:47:38 GMT

Are you trying to pay your state efile fee out of your Federal refund? If so, that payment option will automatically add Premium Services (with Audit Defense) to your fees, which is $45 in California. Premium Services also includes Audit Defense and ID protection services.

In California to avoid Premium Services (and its included Audit Defense), you have to pay upfront with credit/debit card. After choosing to pay upfront, if it STILL tries to charge you for Audit Defense, then check to be sure it was declined on the original Audit Defense question screen:

By removing a checkmark on one of the screens under the REVIEW tab in the AUDIT PROTECTION section. On a screen after the Audit Risk meter, way down at the bottom is a place to enter or remove a checkmark for Audit Defense. If it's been declined there, and if you are paying up front with credit/debit card (instead of paying out of the refund with Premium Services), then you should not be charged for anything but the state efile fee (and possible sales tax.)

Don't pay until you see that your only charge is for the $20 or $25 state efile fee.

Re: Audit Defense opt out

jolynns — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 23:39:13 GMT

Somebody found a way around the Audit Defense mandatory sign up. Chose to pay by credit card (don't deduct State fee from your Federal refund - this work around won't work if you do...).

First E-file your Federal Return first by itself, and wait, once it is transmitted, E-file your State return.

The Audit Defense sign up will no longer be adding itself in when you file one at a time, and file the Federal first.

Re: Audit Defense opt out

jcdrm — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:26:58 GMT

Thanks so much for posting this! It solved the problem for me.