How much extra cost is TT Online to complete Schedule C so I can deduct it? Why is the pricing so confusing?

[crash345u]

I can deduct the extra cost for TT as a business expense to the extent that it cost more to complete schedule C. How much extra does TT cost to prepare SCH C?

TT is extremely non-transparent in their advertised prices, they show a "range" of costs for their tax software.I don't have any capital gain or real estate transactions or other sources of income other than Dividend and IRA income.

When I click on "State additional for paid products"  the link takes me back to the same page I'm already on in an endless loop.  What does that even mean, "additional for paid products"? Paid Products? so it's different for unpaid products?

My current product says "premium" on my screen but I thought I purchased "Premier".  Why does this have to be so confusing? There are  (9) choices in the "select a product drop down"  for what "edition" I am using its nuts and mine is not even listed!

I wish Turbotax would be more transparent and straight forward in their product lineup and pricing.

[DoninGA]

The TurboTax Premium online edition is $99.  To add a state tax return, that is an additional $39.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/premium/

See this TurboTax support FAQ for viewing your TurboTax online account fees - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/review-fees-turbo...

You cannot deduct the current cost of the software as a business expense on the 2024 tax return, that is entered as a business expense on your 2025 tax return. 

You can deduct the cost as a business expenses for the tax preparation you paid for in 2024.

[xmasbaby0]

Be careful----the names are similar.

Premium  is online software.

Premier is desktop download software.

What did you purchase?    If you purchased the download, you have to download it, enter your license key at the very beginning and then use the program that is on your own hard drive.   You do not "log in" and "log out" to use Premier from your own hard drive.   

We see people get confused and they keep logging in to online software which will require them to pay at the end.   You need to use the desktop software.   One way to tell if you are using the right software---your tool bar.   Online software has the toolbar in a black vertical column on the left side of the screen.   Desktop software has the tools up on the top of your TT screen.

If you chose Premium, then Premium can prepare Schedule C.  

How can I see my TurboTax  fees? 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/review-fees-turbo...

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons     (BEFORE you e-file) :

• Remove Premium Services
• Remove MAX Defend & Restore
• Remove a state
• Remove PLUS Help & Support
• Remove Pay With Your Refund

[crash345u]

I am using ONLINE PREMIUM (with schedule C) and still need to know the difference in cost to prepare SCH C compared to lower tier S/W so that I can deduct this on the appropriate year's tax return.  

Yes it's true I can't deduct this for 2024 taxes but I need this for next year and if it's this hard to find out the cost now, it will be IMPOSSIBLE if I wait for 2025 to determine! 

@DoninGA  Why do you say the cost for premium is $99 when TT on the screen I previously posted gave a range of 0- $66.75? This was for ONLINE SW. Could this be any more confusing?

[DoninGA]

Could be you are accessing an old TurboTax website or you need to clear cache and cookies on your web browser.

This is the TurboTax website for the Premium online edition at $99 - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/premium/

[crash345u]

I already  paid $70.92 which included state tax for ONLINE PREMIUM which included SCH C so I'm not sure where the $99 is coming from, clearing cookies and cache will give me the same screens. But nobody is answering my original question: - 

How much did it cost to include the SCH C return ?  TT typically costs more to file SCH C. 

[DoninGA]

If you did not have the Schedule C then it is possible that you would have paid $0 for the federal and state tax return using the Free online edition.  So your cost can be the $70.92 you paid.

Or if you could not use the Free online edition for $0, then you would have to use the Deluxe online edition which is currently $49 with a state return for $39.  In this scenario your cost is now $0 since the Deluxe plus State program total $88, which is more than what you paid for the Premium plus State.

[crash345u]

Thank you this was the answer  I was looking for "Deluxe online edition which is currently $49"

CAN YOU PLEASE LINK ME TO WHERE THIS $49 Is stated for my records?

Thank You!

[DoninGA]

---

@crash345u wrote:

Thank you this was the answer  I was looking for "Deluxe online edition which is currently $49"

CAN YOU PLEASE LINK ME TO WHERE THIS $49 Is stated for my records?

Thank You!

---

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/deluxe.jsp

[crash345u]

Thank You

Like I have been saying the pricing is CONFUSING. This is the screen I get when I click the provided link and does not match the $49 stated in previous post. It says  $39  $29.25.

I can probably use this to show an auditor I made a good fail effort to define the expense, but Geeze it should not be this difficult!

[DoninGA]

@crash345u You are accessing an old website.  You definitely need to clear cache and cookies from your web browser.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for clearing cache - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/product-system-requirements/clear-cache/...

See this TurboTax support FAQ for clearing cookies - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/data-systems/delete-cookies/L009gaGqG_US...

You may also want to change your web browser to one of these that you are not currently using - Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge

[crash345u]

I tried Firefox which gives yet another result. The only option in Safari is to "Clear History" and I still get a different result that Firefox or what your post said.

Firefox 

Safari

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

@crash345u OK...I went and cleared my cache and cookies on Google Chrome for all time.  Started the web browser and accessed the TurboTax community forum website.  Then scrolled down to the bottom of the page and clicked on the Deluxe online edition - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/deluxe.jsp

Come to find that we were both wrong.  The Deluxe online edition is currently $39 with the state program an additional $39.

[crash345u]

Thank you for double checking. This helps my 2025 taxes.

So the only mystery is why I can't get Safari to agree, but Firefox and Chrome at my end say $39