free filing of Illinois state tax return

[Kahuna16]

TURBO TAX DELUXE for 2022 states you receive one free Illinois tax e-file .. why am I being charged 25.00 by INTUIT filing my state income tax return?

[xmasbaby0]

E-filing fee in desktop software

Did you purchase desktop software with state software included?  They sell Deluxe both with and without state software--so you have to be careful which one you choose.  And even if it does have the state software download included, that is for preparing the state.  There is an extra fee to e-file the state. Before March 1 that fee is $20; after March 1 it increases to $25.  You can avoid the state e-file fee if you print and mail the state instead of e-filing it.

[VolvoGirl]

  In the Desktop program you get one free state PROGRAM download to prepare unlimited state returns. Then each state return (including the first one) is $20 to efile, usually goes up to $25 March 1. Or you can print and mail state for free.  

[njdevilfire]

The free state means that all info related to that state is free with the software. So when you fill in the data requested by TurboTax for your state taxes, the first state you choose is free to download.  To download additional states costs about $45.

The e-filing, however, is a separate issue. Federal e-filing is free but states require a fee. I've been filing with TurboTax for quite a while now and it's been that way for years. You can skip the fee and simply mail in your return if you like. Turbotax will give you the address of where you need to mail it if you go that route.