I was charged $69 Deluxe for only filing one simple 1040 form and no extra deductions

[olegyk]

I was convinced through online advertising that I should qualify for Free Tax Return, while having only a simple Federal return with a W-2 form and no extra special cases.

By the time I filled out everything and ready to file, I was now required to pay $69 for Deluxe version of the product. I cannot even recall selecting "Agree" to Deluxe. But given that the customers are presented multiple confusing offers while filling out, which they don't need, I may assume that I was tricked to pressing the Agree button. Even though I was very careful to decline all those extraneous offers that I didn't need. (I would like to see the transcript of my session to see where exactly I was agreeing.)

My gross income is less than $79,000. And according to IRS, I should qualify for Free File

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

How did TurboTax and Intuit manage to charge $69 and insist on using the Deluxe version?

I did fill out the Refund Request described at

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-refunds/request-refund-turbotax-p...

But Intuit denied my Refund Request, stating

We are unable to process the refund for TurboTax Online product Case because our Satisfaction Guaranteed policy only covers TurboTax CD/Download products. TurboTax Online is designed not to charge the customer until after they choose to file, so it is not covered under the Satisfaction Guarantee.

What kind of a response is that? I wasn't asking for a desktop Satisfaction Guaranteed. I was using TurboTax online and asking to correct the wrongfully charged $69 Deluxe version, which I did not need according the law, because I qualify for Free File.

Intuit just settled the class action law suit https://www.agturbotaxsettlement.com/

in which "Intuit TurboTax customers who paid for tax preparation services that should have been free for them".

Is this the repeat of the same situation?

[DoninGA]

The TurboTax Free online edition is for very simple tax returns that do not require any other form or schedule other than the Form 1040.  If your tax data requires entry on any other form or schedule then you must upgrade to the Deluxe edition or higher.

If you have not paid for the online edition you are using, have not filed your tax return or registered the Free edition, then you can clear your return and start over with a lower priced edition. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the program screen while working on the 2023 online tax return. Click on Clear & Start Over.

Go to this TurboTax website for the Free online edition - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp

Please Note -

TurboTax Online: Important Details about Filing Form 1040 Returns with Limited Credits

A Form 1040 return with limited credits is one that's filed using IRS Form 1040 only (with the exception of the specific covered situations described below). Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.

If you have a Form 1040 return and are claiming limited credits only, you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Live Assisted Basic (if available), or you can file with TurboTax Full Service at the listed price.

Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):

• W-2 income
• Interest or dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
• IRS standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Student loan interest deduction

Situations not covered:

• Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A
• Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
• Business or 1099-NEC income
• Stock sales (including crypto investments)
• Rental property income
• Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules

[olegyk]

@DoninGADid you just paste a pre-made response without reading my post?

I do have the exact same situation that is outlined in Intuit TurboTax advertisement the free simple tax return.

And yet Intuit charged me $69 dollars and insisted on using the Deluxe edition.

Now I request to be refunded of wrongfully charged fees.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/modals/simple-tax-return/

Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):

• W-2 income
• IRS standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

[DoninGA]

As stated - You must have entered something that the Free online edition does not support.  That is why the upgrade to Deluxe was required.

You did not have to accept the upgrade nor have to pay for the online account in the File section of the program.

You could have cleared the return and started over with the Free edition or you could have declined to use TurboTax before paying for the account.  That was your choice.

[olegyk]

There are a lot of could've, would've. It sounds like a conversation in shady back alley and not a reputable tax preparation service.

The proof is in the only single 1040 filed, it fully satisfies the requirements for Free File as advertised.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/modals/simple-tax-return/

And yet I was deceptively charged $69 for Deluxe version that is clearly not needed.

How much do they pay you, @DoninGA ?

[DoninGA]

They do not pay me anything since I do not work for and have never worked for TurboTax or Intuit.

Just been around using the online and desktop editions for going on thirty years and volunteer to assist on these TurboTax forums.

I can never understand why anyone would pay for something that they thought was being sold under false  pretenses.

Here is a list of other tax preparation software vendors that anyone can use besides TurboTax - https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/browse-all-offers/

[olegyk]

Oh, @DoninGA so you want to insist and claim ignorance to the deceptive practices, which you must be very well aware of and complicit in, not the least by trolling ordinary community members when they ask questions and ridiculing their complaints:

I can never understand why anyone would pay for something that they thought was being sold under false pretenses.

I already quoted how Intuit just settled the class action law suit https://www.agturbotaxsettlement.com/

in which "Intuit TurboTax customers who paid for tax preparation services that should have been free for them".

And the list keeps going on...

How Intuit is blocking search engines from indexing its "free file program" page.

How Intuit, the owner of TurboTax, spent more than $11 million on federal lobbying between 2008 and 2012. Intuit "opposes IRS government tax preparation", particularly allowing taxpayers to file pre-filled returns for free.

How Intuit was diverting stimulus funds away from customers.

You want me to go on?

[dangaio1]

Before submitting your tax return the ONLINE version automatically determines which version you "require" based on all the relevant data you entered into the system. Even if you met with an agent in-person the same thing would have likely happened. Everyones tax situation is different, so it helps knowing ahead of time what version you need, so there aren't any surprises.