State Tax Mail-in versus e-file

[DonB10]

Do I have to pay the "Tax Preparation Fee" if I mail in my State tax return?  In other words, in there anyway to file my Turbo Tax NY  State tax return for free?

[SForrestLO]

If you have to file a State return there is a fee. Please visit our website below. Click on the State Additional hyperlink for more information.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/deluxe.jsp


If you are using the CD/Download one free state is included. If you want to e-file there is a fee of $19.99. You can choose to mail your state return to avoid the fee. 

  

 
 

[SteamTrain]

AHHHH, but NY is special.

1)  IF you can e-file Federal, you are supposed to e-file NY or there is a penalty for mail-filing.

2)  For Online software, (unless you can use the "free" version)  there is a separate fee for the software to prepare the NY tax return, you cannot get around that software Fee. But, there is no e-file fee after buying the NY software.

3)  For the Desktop software, if you bought a version that contained 1 free state download, and you only need one state, then there is no additional cost for the one free set of State software....and for NY-ONLY, there is no e-file fee.  All other states have a $20 or $25 e-file fee.

(If you buy the desktop software, some versions of Deluxe are issued without one free state download, so be careful which you buy, and only buy from well-known retailers. Amazon, BBuy, WalMart, Target, Staples...etc)