How to get out of Free File program

mesquitebean · ‎February 18, 2021

@ eldica4u wrote:
I need to get out of the free filling from the irs please

If you've been using TurboTax IRS Free File Program at its special website to prepare your 2020 return and don't qualify, and now want to go back to a paid edition of TurboTax at the Online TurboTax website to finish and file your return in the same account without starting over, here's how:

First log out of all Intuit accounts.
Delete your browser Internet cache and any Intuit-related cookies.
(or instead of doing that, you can try using a private window (aka private browsing/incognito mode.)
Close your browser and reopen it (either after Intuit cookies and cache were cleaned as above, or in a private window.)
Go to this page: https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/compare/online/
When you arrive there, do NOT sign in yet.
Choose the product you want like you hadn't even started a return before, and click on "Start for Free".
It will ask how you did your taxes last year. Say "TurboTax", and then it will ask you to sign in.
When you log in, it may recognize you were using the IRS Free File Program and should ask you if you want to switch to a TurboTax commercial product and not use the IRS Free File Program anymore. Say "yes".
Hopefully, that will put you back in regular Online TurboTax while keeping your originally-entered info.
If it doesn't, you can try using a different browser and following the same steps as above.

eldica4u · ‎February 18, 2021

i want to cancel free filling i do not qualify

mesquitebean · ‎February 18, 2021

@ eldica4u wrote:
i want to cancel free filling i do not qualify

I understand. I was posting the steps above to do so, so scroll up above your last comment to see the answer. You and I were probably typing at the same time. Good luck!

T-taxsucks · ‎February 20, 2021

This worked for me. It's crazy there isn't a better way

calebriley01 · ‎February 25, 2021

This solved my problem. Follow the instructions *exactly* and it will work. This includes iPad users as I am one.

rmathews · ‎February 27, 2021

This actually worked!!! Even the support team at TurboTax could not help me figure this out. Thank You!

mesquitebean · ‎February 27, 2021

@rmathews wrote:
This actually worked!!! Even the support team at TurboTax could not help me figure this out. Thank You!

You're welcome. I'm glad the steps worked for you. Good luck.

Anonymous · ‎March 1, 2021

@mesquitebean hello, thanks for all the assistance you've offered with this! Unfortunately, i tried all the steps you listed (even tried using incognito in a different browser - edge instead of chrome) and after I sign in, it takes me right back to the free IRS tax version I worked on every time. Any ideas on what else i could try?

mesquitebean · ‎March 1, 2021

@Anonymous wrote:
hello, thanks for all the assistance you've offered with this! Unfortunately, i tried all the steps you listed (even tried using incognito in a different browser - edge instead of chrome) and after I sign in, it takes me right back to the free IRS tax version I worked on every time. Any ideas on what else i could try?

Wow, that's a tough one, because my steps nearly always work, so I've never needed to offer a contingency plan. Several users in this thread and other threads have commented that the steps work. It also works for me.

Print out my steps I posted above and follow each one carefully step by step.

After clearing your browser (or if using a different one or private window), when you go back to Online TurboTax at this link:

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

Do NOT sign in right away (very important.) Act like it's your first visit ever. Choose the product you want first and under that product click "Start for Free."

Then it should ask you "How did you do your taxes last year? and shows several boxes. When you choose the "I used TurboTax" box, THEN it should ask you to log in.

Did you go far enough after you logged in? When you log in, the screen will say "let's keep working on your taxes" but your return is not yet open, and you will not yet have a full left-column menu. Click to Continue something so that your return will open up, and then you should get a popup.

It should notice that you had been using IRS Free File Program and ask you if want to switch back to regular Online TurboTax.

See this image:

.

natureholic · ‎March 11, 2021

I JUST SWITCHED FROM IRS FREE version to deluxe. You have to select free version even before logging in and then there will be a pop-up notice to select whether you want to continue with IRS Free File or Free Turbotax package. Hope this helps!

rmdupl · ‎March 13, 2021

That is RIDICULOUSLY INSANE! I didn't select Free File, I went off the IRS site and opened my regular Turbo Tax account. I was automatically moved to the Free File. I didn't know this until I was ready to file and I received, in red, I was not eligible for Free File! I was finished, years of my information is saved and now I have to start from scratch? I have a very bad word on the tip of my tongue....

mesquitebean · ‎March 13, 2021

@ rmdupl wrote:
That is RIDICULOUSLY INSANE! I didn't select Free File, I went off the IRS site and opened my regular Turbo Tax account. I was automatically moved to the Free File. I didn't know this until I was ready to file and I received, in red, I was not eligible for Free File! I was finished, years of my information is saved and now I have to start from scratch? I have a very bad word on the tip of my tongue....

No, you don't have to start over. And you do not have to create another account. I explained a couple of times above in this thread how to do it. I'll post the solution again below.

Some of the early comments in this thread made by others last year are no longer correct. I suspect you read some of those early comments and responded here without proceeding to read the rest of the thread which has my solution and the success stories.

You can use the same account without starting over--IF you use my steps. 10 users in this thread alone have posted their results above that they had success with my steps. And there are some other threads with users reporting the same success.

BTW, you said you went to the IRS site first. If you went to TurboTax through a link from the IRS site, it would take you to a special TurboTax site to sign-in for the TurboTax IRS Free File Program instead of regular Online TurboTax.

In any case, if you've been using TurboTax IRS Free File Program at its special website to prepare your 2020 return and don't qualify, you can go back to a paid edition of TurboTax at the Online TurboTax website to finish and file your return in the same account without starting over. You need to follow the steps exactly. Read through all the steps first. You should print this out so you can easily follow it without signing in.

First log out of all Intuit accounts, including this community forum.
Delete your browser Internet cache and any Intuit-related cookies.
(or instead of doing that, you can try using a private window (aka private browsing/incognito mode.)
Close your browser and reopen it (either after Intuit cookies and cache were cleaned as above, or in a private window.)
Go to this page: https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/compare/online/
When you arrive there, do NOT sign in yet.
First choose the product you want like you hadn't even started a return before, and click on "Start for Free".
It will ask how you did your taxes last year. Indicate "TurboTax", and then it will ask you to sign in.
When you log in, it should recognize that you had been using the IRS Free File Program and should ask you if you want to switch to a TurboTax commercial product and not use the IRS Free File Program anymore. Say "yes".
Hopefully, that will put you back in regular Online TurboTax while keeping your originally-entered info.

tortiz80 · ‎March 22, 2021

This is ASSININE...the amount of hoops we have to jump through to get out of the freefile program...I got stuck in this loop by accident and now I'm on the verge of throwing my computer away it's so frustrating. And I'm not the only person in our household who uses this computer, so we have several levels of "tax filer" from a student to a self-employed person, to a retiree...unacceptable TurboTax...it should not be THIS difficult to "UNselect" freefile...for crying out loud...I'd rather go back to the old fashioned paper format...It would take less time at this point.

mesquitebean · ‎March 22, 2021

@ tortiz80 wrote:
This is ASSININE...the amount of hoops we have to jump through to get out of the freefile program...I got stuck in this loop by accident and now I'm on the verge of throwing my computer away it's so frustrating. And I'm not the only person in our household who uses this computer, so we have several levels of "tax filer" from a student to a self-employed person, to a retiree...unacceptable TurboTax...it should not be THIS difficult to "UNselect" freefile...for crying out loud...I'd rather go back to the old fashioned paper format...It would take less time at this point.

Sorry you're having trouble. I can't tell from your paragraph if you yet have tried the detailed steps I've provided in this thread on how to get out of the TurboTax IRS Free File Program and go back to a paid Online TurboTax product in the same account without starting over. I'm going to provide them here again, just in case. When followed exactly, the steps work for most people.

You should print this out so you can easily follow it without signing in.

First log out of all Intuit accounts, including this community forum.
Delete your browser Internet cache and any Intuit-related cookies.
(or instead of doing that, you can try using a private window (aka private browsing/incognito mode, which also should clean the browser.)
Close your browser and reopen it (either after Intuit cookies and cache were cleaned as above, or in a private window.)
Go to this specific product comparison page: https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/compare/online/
When you arrive there, do NOT sign in yet.
First choose the product you want like you hadn't even started a return before, and click on "Start for Free".
It will then ask how you did your taxes last year. Indicate "TurboTax", and then it will ask you to sign in.
When you log in, it should recognize that you had been using the IRS Free File Program and should ask you if you want to switch to a TurboTax commercial product and not use the IRS Free File Program anymore. Say "yes".
Hopefully, that will put you back in regular Online TurboTax in the same account while keeping your originally-entered info.

3b544b8e8b33 · ‎March 24, 2021

So I filed and paid $117 for help with my taxes but some how was still on the free file and qualified for federal. Every time I go to finish up my state refund it says "don't qualify for free file" which I get that because I ended up paying. So how do 1. I get my money back and start over or 2. get out of free file without having to start over so they don't charge me again. I am confused how they could charge me without allowing me to finish.

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