Can use deluxe for Federal and the free for State.

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

No you cannot do that.  If you need to use Deluxe to prepare your federal return then you can purchase the additional state software to do your state return. The information you entered on your federal return will flow to your state return. You cannot just use Free Edition to prepare a "stand alone" state return.  You could try going on your state's tax website and see if you can prepare a state return for free there.

[david-gates]

Disgraceful by Turbo Tax, should be ashamed of this tactic

[andrewoordt]

This is [profanity removed] , its a complete bait and switch. They do not tell you that its going to be an additional $40 on top of the $40 you pay to file federal. Complete scam

[troy-stevens]

They should tell you upfront!

[ethomps4nwu]

lucky me who has to file with multiple states too. shame on you turbo tax

[Cricket1990]

This is a total rip off. I am in the same situation as last year, and I did not need deluxe then. It won't even tell me why I was triggered to use deluxe. And this is online, not even actual software of any kind, and they are charging more for both federal and state than if it was actual software purchase, whether downloaded of CD

[DoninGA]

---

@Cricket1990 wrote:

This is a total rip off. I am in the same situation as last year, and I did not need deluxe then. It won't even tell me why I was triggered to use deluxe. And this is online, not even actual software of any kind, and they are charging more for both federal and state than if it was actual software purchase, whether downloaded of CD

---

You either started with or upgraded to the Deluxe online edition from the Free online edition for a federal tax return - $40

State tax return when using the Deluxe edition or higher - $40

Option to pay the TurboTax account fees with the federal tax refund - service charge $40

See this TurboTax support FAQ for checking your fees - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/charges-and-fees/help/how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online/0...

See this TurboTax support FAQ for removing fees - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/charges-and-fees/help/what-can-i-do-to-reduce-my-fees/01/26051

The TurboTax Free online edition is for very simple tax returns that do not require any other form or schedule other than the Form 1040.  If your tax data requires entry on any other form or schedule then you must upgrade to the Deluxe edition or higher.

If you have not paid for the online edition you are using, have not filed your tax return or registered the Free edition, then you can clear your return and start over with a lower priced edition. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the program screen while working on the 2020 online tax return. Click on Clear & Start Over.

OR - 

You can use the TurboTax Free File Program - https://freefile.intuit.com/

IRS Free File Program - https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/
If you are eligible you can use the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax which is free to file both a federal and state tax return. The IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax edition is a full featured personal tax program and on a separate website from the TurboTax online editions.

To qualify for free 2020 federal and state tax returns with the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, you'll need to meet at least one of these requirements:

• A maximum 2020 adjusted gross income (AGI) of $39,000; or
• You qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
• You served as active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a maximum 2020 AGI of $72,000 (you'll also need a military-issued W-2).

See this TurboTax support FAQ on the Free File Program - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/what-is-the-turbotax-free-file-program/00/...

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the difference between the Free File Program and the Free edition - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/choosing-a-product/help/what-s-the-difference-between-free-file-pr...
And see this TurboTax support FAQ on how to switch to the TurboTax Free File Program - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/00/...

[Filed2021]

NO. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR BOTH IF YOU DO ONE
If you have a single item (an HSA contribution for example) that requires Deluxe for Federal then you will have to buy an upgrade it at some point during the process, most often in the final stages of review. If you do this for Federal you are forced to do it for State, even though you don't see the State cost posted... read on. 

YOU'LL PAY FOR FEDERAL, THEN ADDITIONAL FOR STATE
The frustrating thing is the fact that you begin the process anticipating free federal and state OR $60 (2020 Tax year Filing) if you need to upgrade to Deluxe. But Deluxe is not $60, Deluxe Federal is $60 and Deluxe State is $50. You don't see the Deluxe State $50 until you have upgraded and are at checkout and the total is $110. It's built this way so by that point you'll just pay it because you're not (statistically speaking) going to go file State somewhere else.

BUT WHY DO IT THIS WAY?

It's an effective funnel that converts free users to $60 then to $110 but this comes with a cost. When I anticipate one thing for 2 or 3 hours of filing and then am surprised by a bill at the end it taints the experience. And after 13 years of using TurboTax and telling others how easy it is to use I'm now going to tell them, "go for it. It get's things done and is pretty easy BUT you'll be hit with surprises at checkout..." I'll also mention that a local CPA is about the same cost as those fees and she/he'll tell you the cost up front, not at the last step.