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Charges for what is supposted to be Free

Saw ads on TV the 37% Quailfy for free tax filing, Not Free to Start thats called bait and switch. Did my taxes short form Social Security benefits under 23K. About the same as last year which was free. System will not allow anything but the Deluxe package which wants to charge me $39.00; can't email support which wants on to call.  Next BBB complaint.

 

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Charges for what is supposted to be Free

There has not been a "short form" since the tax laws changed after 2017.   Everyone uses a Form 1040.

 

If your only income was Social Security you are not required to file a tax return unless you have a 1095A for marketplace insurance or if you had tax withheld from the SS and need a refund.

 

If you had other kinds of income, that may have triggered the software into an upgrade to a paid version.  What income did you enter?

 

 

 

 

If you have not registered, paid or e-filed you can clear and start over in a lower version of the software.

CLEAR AND START OVER

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2586254-how-do-i-clear-and-start-over

 

You are posting fromDeluxe $39

State return $39

Refund processing to have fees deducted from federal refund by 3rd party bank $40 ($45 in CA) (This fee is optional and can be avoided by paying TT upfront using a credit/debit card)

 

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY?  I WANT THE FREE EDITION

 

The information that you can enter in Free Edition is pretty limited now.  Thanks to the new tax laws that began for 2018 returns, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's.  Everything goes on a Form 1040 that has three extra "schedules" with it, and if you need any of those schedules, you are not able to use the Free Edition.  Using the standard deduction instead of itemizing does NOT mean you will not need any of those schedules.https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez   If you started in the Free Edition and entered any data that required any of those three schedules, you have to upgrade to a paid version and if you are watching the screens carefully you are alerted to the upgrade.

 

 

When you chose to “start”  in the Free Edition —

Directly below the words “Free Edition” there is a blue link that says “For simple tax returns only”   If you click that link it brings up this information:

 

 

You can file with TurboTax Free Edition if you have a simple tax return.*

*A simple tax return is Form 1040 only.

Situations covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:

  • W-2 income
  • Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV
  • Claiming the standard deduction
  • Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)
  • Child tax credits
  • Student Loan Interest deduction

Situations not covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:

  • Itemized deductions
  • Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
  • Business or 1099-NEC income
  • Stock sales
  • Rental property income
  • Credits, deductions and income reported on schedules 1-3

 

How does TurboTax make any money?

Customers with more complex tax situations will file with our paid TurboTax products that provide all the additional forms and guidance they need. We also offer additional benefits that go beyond filing your taxes, but they are optional and are not required to file simple taxes for free. We hope that, over time, as our customers with simple returns need more capabilities as their financial situations change (for example owning a home, having a child, managing investments), they have loved our products and services so much that they will choose our paid TurboTax offerings to prepare and file their returns.

 

 

 

Or—-Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free.  There are 8  free software versions available from the IRS Free File site

 

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

 

 

How can I see my TurboTax  fees? 

 

  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565973-how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online

 

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons:

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Charges for what is supposted to be Free

We don't know what your tax situation is that bumped you out of the free version, no one on this board can see your account.  If you don't want to pay the fees, you can find another tax provider that might charge less.   If you already paid the fee, the official position is that, since the fee was disclosed in writing before you paid it, the fact that you paid it means you are satisfied with the service.  If you want to negotiate a reduction, you must call customer support.  

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