Can't e-file extension for free after paying almost $100 for "Premium"

[SDSoCal]

Did you notice where I commented that (unlike many other forums), replying to a particular post won't put the reply next to that post? As you pointed out, it's "confusing" to have it just put all posts at the end.

Regarding anything done after the October extended filing date has to be printed; yes. I am fully aware of that.

The problem I had in 2024, and fully expect to have in 2025, is trying to E-FILE my timely extension from within the PAID version within my computer.  

If by April 15, 2025 Intuit has already fixed this, HOORAH! It only took 20 years longer than it should have, but at least fixed. 

If Intuit has still NOT fixed this in 2025 (and this "still not fixed" scenario is my bet), at least other customers looking up the solution to the problem can be consoled the it is indeed the faulty software, not the customer making a mistake.

IF you are a frustrated TT customer, and this is April 15, 2025;

Go to the IRS website

Pick any other free file tax service

Enter your basic information

Hit "e-file an extension"

(you'll get a confirmation email from the IRS)

Done 

[mesquitebean]

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@ SDSoCal wrote:

Did you notice where I commented that (unlike many other forums), replying to a particular post won't put the reply next to that post? As you pointed out, it's "confusing" to have it just put all posts at the end.

You can change the order that posts appear in this forum by going to your profile settings.   You can choose for posts to appear either consecutively or in thread form.  Here's how to change it to threaded form:

• In the top right corner of this page click on the profile settings icon (looks like 3 heads), and in the dropdown menu choose MY SETTINGS.
• On the My Settings page, choose the PREFERENCES tab.
• On the next screen choose Preference Options subtab "LINEAR LAYOUT".
• Under Linear Layout Settings choose "THREADED."

[mesquitebean]

@SDSoCal 

EDIT NOTE:

Oops.  In my comment above I wrote "left corner" to get to profile settings when I meant to say "right corner."  I've since corrected it.   Sorry about that.

[TaxDonor1]

Would be nice if this were built into Turbo Tax rather than its generation of the Form 4868 with instructions to mail it in. That's the point of the original post. Odd that one can submit the entire set of tax forms electronically, but not the extension. I too went to TurboTax's online site to submit an electronic extension, but had to enter everything again and be treated like I was buying the free version of the product which is pretty lame.

I presume the developers of the software are kids who have never used the software for their own tax filings. Or at least, they've never had to use this form to submit an extension. I can't imagine young people using the post office to mail this. So strange when other parts of the program are quite sophisticated.

[DoninGA]

For future reference - You can get an automatic extension from the IRS if you make an extension payment on the IRS website for Direct Pay on or before the due date of the federal tax return -  https://directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment?execution=e2s1

[TaxDonor1]

That page is nice but not ideal. It requires entering a lot of information before being able to file and pay. That may work for myself, but not so easy for someone else like a child or parent. I shouldn't have to validate my identity with data from past filings to create an extension and make a payment online. Can I use that page just for an extension with no payment? This is a real pain for TurboTax customers, but I guess I have to purchase the free version to get this feature. Very odd business decision. Or maybe I should look for a competitor with this feature for free. Do you think TaxCut offers it? 

I know that's not Intuit's fault for the IRS webpage, but it would be a lot better if Intuit could figure out how to do it within their product. If they can't figure it out with their own developers, maybe they can poach some developers from their competitors or license this technology from them. Shouldn't be that hard. 

[DoninGA]

@TaxDonor1 For future reference - You can get an automatic extension from the IRS if you make an extension payment on the IRS website for Direct Pay on or before the due date of the federal tax return - https://directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment?execution=e1s1

[TaxDonor1]

Have you tried to use that IRS link to submit an extension without a payment? Have you tried to submit it for someone other than yourself? It asks for so many questions to verify yourself (past year numbers), totally unrelated to simply getting an extension and/or making a payment. I doubt there's fraud with people giving the IRS money. For my kids and parents, I think my only choice is to print out what TurboTax gives me and mail it in.

[sg312]

Since I started this last year, I am amazed at the number of replies and the number of equally frustrated TT users. I tried again this year and it really hasn't changed. the Federal extension from the desktop is either on paper or you have to go to the federal e-file to file an extension. I "googled" free extension filing and there are plenty of options (except for TurboTax of course.) I filed using the irs web site. it was a terrible experience because of all the questions that you need to answer (and  of course the number of times you need to verify that you are not a robot). But, in the end it works and my extension was accepted in under an hour. I could not figure out how to enter the NY State extension through TurboTax. It takes you through the whole tax form like you are going to file a real return. I could not get it to actually do the extension. I am sure there must be a way but Intuit does not live up to its name. IT IS NOT INTUITIVE by any stretch of the imagination. I figured if I eventually got to the extension through TT it would just send me to the state web site. So, I went there myself. Now TurboTax has no idea that i filed for and received an extension. My wife says it's time to look for something else. I have been with TurboTax since the late '90's. Anyone have experience with other tax products????  I have other issues - like the entry of charitable donations.

[blacktreechaser2019]

My hero (or heroine).   It was not easy to find, but your link did show me how to file an extension and pay estimated taxes.  If not for you link, I would not have found it.  I worked on the fires in California this year, and I'm blessed with making some extra money, so my tax obligation went up.

   I owe you a beer.  We are in Asheville now, soon to head up to Queens (both family visits), then back to California with a brief stop at Amtrak in Chicago.

[mesquitebean]

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@ sg312 wrote:

 Now TurboTax has no idea that i filed for and received an extension.

I realize this isn't your original issue, but based on that one sentence, here's some info that may help you or others later on to be sure you are getting proper credit for any extension payment you made with an extension request.

The entries for both Federal and state extension payments are found on the Federal side of the return interview.   So to report your extension payment(s) in the program (or to confirm the amount if autopopulated), here is the navigation in the desktop software:

• Federal tab (it's the PERSONAL tab in Home and Business)
• Subtab Deductions & Credits
• "I'll choose what I work on"
• Your 2024 Deductions & Credits summary page
• Scroll down to topic Estimates and Other Taxes
• Choose subtopic Other Income Taxes and click Start or Update.
• On the "Other Income Taxes" screen, under the topic "Payments with Extension" choose the type of extension payment (Federal, state, local) and correct tax year for the payment, then Start or Update.

[sg312]

Thanks for the info - I think I knew that. but you are proving my point. I need to tell turbo tax that i had to manually enter the information elsewhere and manually enter it again with another seven steps to get to enter it.

1. Federal tab (it's the PERSONAL tab in Home and Business)
2. Subtab Deductions & Credits
3. "I'll choose what I work on"
4. Your 2024 Deductions & Credits summary page
5. Scroll down to topic Estimates and Other Taxes
6. Choose subtopic Other Income Taxes and click Start or Update.
7. On the "Other Income Taxes" screen, under the topic "Payments with Extension" choose the type of extension payment (Federal, state, local) and correct tax year for the payment, then Start or Update.

Point is that is one could submit e-file from turbo tax, turbo tax would know all this and have it filled in. But since they REFUSE to do the simple task, we users get to do triple work

1. manually fill in personal information again for federal land again for state

2. fill in the dollar amounts for federal and for state (each on separate web sites)

3. fill in the amounts again on turbo tax.

Very interesting suggestion/solution.  The idea behind using this software is to minimize work and let the software do all this.  Besides the issue of the possibility errors/typos that can occur with all this repetitive typing.

[TaxDonor1]

This inefficiency can only be explained if the current developers of TurboTax have never used this part of the program. I would hope that if one of the software designers or developers actually used the product for an extension, they would fix this nightmare and incentive to find a competitor.

This actually led me to discover the free IRS Direct File platform, https://www.irs.gov/filing/irs-direct-file-for-free, that is much, much better than last year. It also integrates with many state filings and is probably sufficient for my kids' needs. I'll probably recommend they use that next year even if I purchase TurboTax again. It eliminates the need to buy each state package. I just discovered yesterday that one needs to buy the Mac and Windows versions for each separately since we're a mixed OS family. That made it doubly expensive to review my kids' returns in TurboTax because I can't even open their TurboTax file to see the IRS portion without downloading the Intuit state upgrade. So, I'm reviewing their PDFs and having them do the data entry to fix things. And then manually filed their extensions on the IRS site. But I digress.....

I presume Intuit created the Form 8468 in TurboTax before the IRS accepted the form online, and never revisited it. I actually had a problem with the IRS a couple years ago when they said they never received my extension request that I printed from TurboTax and mailed. Of course, I couldn't prove it was mailed unlike an online submission because I didn't have to pay with the extension. Fortunately, my track record of requesting an extension for over 20 years avoided being penalized. But what unnecessary extra stress and waste of everyone's time to use mail rather than an online submission. 

[SDSoCal]

I believe most purchased licenses allow you to install on several devices, which can be a combination of MAC or Windows (each install does count as a "use" of the license); if anyone reading this paid for a second license contact Intuit and ask for a refund; they are notorious for trying to get you to buy TT at every turn, even when you already own it (yet another SUPER annoying part about dealing with the online e-file extension issue; I'm sure some percentage of flustered users get ripped off by TT by thinking they need to pay for it again...).  For your kids, their income is probably low enough they could file for free online using any of the programs; good chance to compare programs maybe?  

[TaxDonor1]

Yea, I wrongly presumed TT wouldn't limit its licenses by OS.

With our Premium edition that allows 5 installations, I installed it on two of my PCs, and my kids were able to install on a combination of Mac and PC. All good. It was the state supplement that is limited to an OS. One purchased and download the NJ files for their Mac. I can't get the corresponding PC download without buying NJ again just to review their TT file because my PC can't open the file, even if I only wanted to see the Federal side.

This was supposed to be a simple parent lesson on how easy it is to use TT to file annual taxes or just to estimate and submit an extension. Turned out to involve some tears and a tutorial on what not to use. Ugh.