Does Turbotax still have limits to the number of e-files for the on-line and CD-ROM versions?

[dhouston6]

Last year's filing was a nightmare for me because my company withholds taxes for multiple states (many more than five) to which I have traveled during the year. Is it still true that Turbotax only allows five state e-filings with the on-line version and three with the CD-ROM version? If so, I will take my business elsewhere. Not worth the effort.

[Opus 17]

With turbotax online, you can prepare up to 5 state returns and e-file all 5.  If you have more than 5 states, you must use the desktop version.

The desktop version of Turbotax can load and prepare an unlimited number of state tax returns, but only 3 can be e-filed.  The rest have to be printed and mailed in.  This is a security precaution because, 2 years ago, there was a dramatic increase in fraudulent tax returns by people who e-filed many bogus state returns, taking advantage of the states' weaker security.

I'm not sure why you consider printing and mailing the state returns to be such a hassle that you will change companies over it, and I suspect (but have not tested) that other companies will have the same security restrictions.  Good luck. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899266-how-many-state-returns-can-i-prepare-in-the-turbotax-cd-do...

[Opus 17]

correction added above.

[dhouston6]

Printing and mailing is not a hassle. Waiting six months (yes...six months) for a refund check in the mail is a hassle.

[SweetieJean]

Then pick which states to file by mail accordingly..

[Opus 17]

If you can find another consumer-level product that does not have these limits then you should try it.  Professionals may not have similar limits but a professional will probably cost more.  Or, many states have online e-filing at their own web sites, you can print the state returns and then transfer the figures to the online web forms.  Or, arrange your withholding so that you owe instead of getting refunds.

[mdefore]

I didn't know this limit until I already did the e-file version...is there anything I can do now that I have maxed my 5 and still have 2 more to go??

[SusanY1]

The TurboTax desktop product will, as you have learned, only e-File 5 returns.  This is due to IRS limitations for a consumer product (not designed for professionals).  For those of us with larger families, it sometimes isn't enough, but there isn't a workaround inside the product itself.

For the remaining two you could set up online accounts to prepare (but this may involve additional fees if they are not eligible here: FreeFile powered by TurboTax.) or you can print the returns to mail in.  

@mdefore

[Opus 17]

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@mdefore wrote:

I didn't know this limit until I already did the e-file version...is there anything I can do now that I have maxed my 5 and still have 2 more to go??

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If the last two returns qualify for the free online version, you can possibly e-file them using Turbotax online (this is not entirely clear because I don't know how the IRS identifies or enforces the limit of 5 e-files per taxpayer).  If you don't qualify for the free online program, your best option is to prepare them in the desktop version and file by mail.  If you used the paid online version, you might still be blocked from e-filing, depending on how the IRS identifies or enforces the limit of 5 e-files per taxpayer.