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

[togldeblox]

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

[xmasbaby0]

We cannot tell you about other software programs--we do not know.  But with TT---sorry--no--you cannot pay the state e-file fee in advance.  You can avoid the state e-file fee altogether by sending the state return by mail.  

[togldeblox]

thanks xmas-baby , that was quick - i was still fixing/editing lol...

ugh that's so annoying i really despise them for this, why oh why?  shame on the person responsible for this stupid "feature".

[VolvoGirl]

You can have the state efile fee deducted from a federal refund but that costs another $40 Refund Processing Service charge (45 in California).  Are you having trouble paying the fee?  You can get a prepaid Visa card to pay.  The last 2 years at Costco you get a $10 credit towards any fees when you need to pay.  So the $20 state efile fee is only $10 (15 after March 1.  Or move to New York.  It is free to efile NY.