$45 fee?

[je76]

I purchased a desktop premier 2023 turbotax. Why am I being charged a $45 fee to efile my federal and state return when the breakdown shows only a $20 fee for state?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you have become confused by the state e-file fee for desktop software.   When you use the CD/download, there is a fee to e-file a state return.  Before March 1, that fee is $20; after March 1 it increases to $25.    You should pay that fee using a credit or debit card BEFORE you e-file.

The program will offer you the option to pay that fee by having it deducted from your federal refund, but if you choose that option, you will be paying an EXTRA "refund processing fee" of $40 ($45 in CA) to have a third party bank receive your federal refund, take out the fee you owe to TurboTax and send you the rest of your refund.

If you print and mail your state return instead of e-filing it, you do not pay an e-file fee at all.  You pay for postage stamp.