Charged $89 despite being new user and filling in app?

[charlie70]

Hello. I just moved last year to the US, and I decided to use TurboTax this year to profit from the offer of free-tax filling for first-time users through the app by February 18th.

Despite only having a W-2 from my employed and a 1099-INT from my bank, and despite filling everything through the app, I'm being charged $89 for TurboTax Live Deluxe, when a screen before said it was clearly since I was first time user.

Could this be an error on the app? Or is it possible to get it waived?

[xmasbaby0]

"just moved to the U.S....."   Wait----we cannot be sure you should use TurboTax.

If you are a non-resident alien, your return must be filed on Form 1040NR, which cannot be prepared using TurboTax.  You can use TT’s partner, sprintax:

https://www.sprintax.com/non-resident-alien-tax-1040nr-turbotax.html

IRS —HOW TO DETERMINE RESIDENCY STATUS FOR TAX

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/determining-an-individuals-tax-residency-sta... you are not a,January 1 – December 31).

[charlie70]

Thank you I was unaware of that, I was probably informed inaccurately by the other TurboTax agent who told me I could file with TurboTax as long as I received any income in the U.S. Or perhaps they probably applied the first-day choice, as I satisfied the 31-days in a row rule for the current year (I arrived November 2024).

Would it be best then to use the partner website, or would be more convenient to treat myself as a resident taxpayer based on the other rule of 31 days?

[DaveF1006]

To file as a resident alien, you would need to be in the US for 183 days in 2024 to qualify for the substantial presence test. Here are the terms of the test.

1. 31 days during the current year, and
2. 183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting:
   • All the days you were present in the current year, and
   • 1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and
   • 1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the current year.

This means to satisfy the 183 day requirement it's 31 days in 2024 plus 1/3 days if you were present in 2023, and plus days if you were present in 2022.  However if you spent 183 days in 2024, this would satisfy the terms of the substantial presence test.

If you weren't in the US for 183 days last year, you would need to file with Sprint Tax.