How do I continue my return without paying for Audit Defense, which I do not want?

[texasbev]

I am at the page titled "You're almost ready to file".  At the bottom of the page when I click on continue I am taken to a page to pay for Audit Defense.  I do not want this.  My return is ready to e-file, but I cannot get past this page asking for payment for something I don't want.

[mesquitebean]

This answer assumes  that if you had any fees (such as a state efile fee), that you are paying upfront with credit/debit card, and that you did not choose the option to pay fees out of your Federal refund (which has an additional 39.99 service fee; 44.99 for California filers.)

Here's how to remove Audit Defense in the desktop product prior to paying:

• Go to the  REVIEW tab, then click the subtab AUDIT PROTECTION.
• Navigate past the Audit Risk Meter, until you come to the screen in the image below.
• Place a checkmark in the checkbox at the bottom of the screen to cancel the order for Audit Defense.

See screen image:

[tadunnjr]

I do not want Audit Defense. How do I file my taxes without paying for something I do not want, Audit Defense?

I see a previous response but it does not work with me. I follow the instructions but do not see a box to check to remove Audit Defense. All I see is a blue box that says no thanks. This does not remove the charge for Audit Defense. Please help.

[mesquitebean]

---

@ tadunnjr wrote:

I do not want Audit Defense. How do I file my taxes without paying for something I do not want, Audit Defense?

I see a previous response but it does not work with me. I follow the instructions but do not see a box to check to remove Audit Defense. All I see is a blue box that says no thanks. This does not remove the charge for Audit Defense. Please help.

---

You're posting in a thread from last year for a user who was paying fees with credit/debit card, so it won't apply to you.   More information is needed.  Are you using desktop software, and if so, are you by any chance a California filer that chose to pay your 24.99 state efile fee out of your Federal refund?

In California, if you chose to pay fees out of your Federal refund, that automatically adds "Premium Services" which is a bundle including Audit Defense, ID monitoring/restoration, and some other features.   The fee for Premium Services is 44.99.  If that is your situation then the original answer in this thread does not apply to you.

We can tell you what you need to do to remove Premium Services (which will also remove Audit Defense) by paying upfront with credit/debit card.   But first I need to know if that's your situation.  Right now, I'm just guessing based on the limited information provided.   So let me know if you are a California filer and chose to pay your state efile fee out of your Federal refund.

[tadunnjr]

I wish to file Federal and state through TurboTax and have the $24.99 fee for filing for the state of 

CA taken out of my refund. If I pay the $24.99 with a credit card I won't have the $44.99 fee?

[mesquitebean]

---

@ tadunnjr  wrote:

I wish to file Federal and state through TurboTax and have the $24.99 fee for filing for the state of 

CA taken out of my refund. If I pay the $24.99 with a credit card I won't have the $44.99 fee?

---

If you choose to pay the 24.99 out of your Federal refund,  then in California it will automatically add a 44.99 fee which includes Premium Services bundle (Audit Defense, ID monitoring/restoration, priority care, the "pay out of refund" option, and some other benefits.)  

If you already chose to pay the fee out of your Federal refund (which adds Premium Services), then you'd have to go through that file/pay section again and remove that payment option and choose to pay by credit/debit card instead. I don't have a way to look at those screens, but it should offer a chance to pay by credit/debit card somewhere along the line before you get to the final screens to sign and submit the return.

Otherwise, if you haven't chosen it yet, then instead advance past that screen that mentions Premium Services for 44.99, and then pay the 24.99 upfront by credit/debit card, you avoid any extra fee.  You don't get any of the Premium Services bundle, and it should only charge you 24.99 plus possible sales tax.

It should charge you correctly if you pay by credit/debit card; i.e., 24.99 plus possible sales tax.   It should show you the charge before you submit it.  In any case, if you end up paying by credit card and still get charged the 44.99 incorrectly, we can tell you how to talk to Customer Support for a refund.   But other users have reported that simply paying upfront with credit/debit card avoided the addition of Premium Services.

It depends on whether you want Premium Services or not.  If you don't want to pay out of your Federal refund, and don't want Premium Services, then pay by credit/debit card.

[mesquitebean]

@tadunnjr 

See my full answer above, but I revised a couple of points after sending it to make things a bit more clear.

If you already chose to pay the fee out of your Federal refund (which adds Premium Services), then you'd have to go through that file/pay section again and remove that payment option and choose to pay by credit/debit card instead.   I don't have a way to look at those screens, but there should be some place to choose to pay by credit/debit card somewhere along the line before the final screens where you sign and submit the return.

Otherwise, if you haven't chosen it yet, then instead advance past that screen that mentions/offers Premium Services for 44.99, and then pay the 24.99 upfront by credit/debit card, you avoid any extra fee.  You don't get any of the Premium Services bundle, and it should only charge you 24.99 plus possible sales tax.

[how to cancel audit protection]

I would disagree with that, in California for many years that I have used TurboTax the option to pay any taxes owed and/or the the fee to file the California State taxes could be paid by means of tax refund if available or credit card WITHOUT having to subscribe to Audit Protection or prime package.  I do hope this mater is resolved quickly, reviewing tab does not work to remove audit protection as it goes over all windows that take the user to the audit protection option and selecting "No Thank You" DOES NOT WORK.  I hope users are not being forced to pay extra for that feature if they do not want it.

[Checorangel]

Cannot remove “yes,I want audit defense “ option.  I want  No Thanks Obtion

[DawnC]

Annual Audit Defense is part of Premium Services.   See how to remove it in the link below.  

How to remove add-ons.   @Checorangel