Is it a $40 charge just for choosing the pay with refund option? So $40 for the Deluxe Version and $40 to PAY for it??

[ReginaM]

Yes, the refund processing costs $39.99, and up grading to the Deluxe version costs an additional $40.00.

You can check the fees you are being charged in TurboTax by following these steps:

1. After signing in to TurboTax, open or continue your return,
2. Select Tax Tools on the left side of the screen and then Tools,
3. A Tools Center box will pop up on your screen.
4. Select the My Fees box on the right.

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons:

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

As a last resort, you can clear and start over to remove all fees and start from scratch as long as you haven't paid, registered, or deducted the TurboTax fee from your refund.

If you want to pay your fees, follow these instructions.

Related Information:

• Can I downgrade to a lower-priced version of TurboTax Online?
• Can I remove PLUS Benefits before I pay?
• How do I delete my state return in TurboTax Online?
• How do I remove Pay With My Refund fees in TurboTax Online and change my payment method?
• How do I remove Premium Services?

[Stonecgi]

I have the same comment and critique.

After asking me tons of questions about my drivers lic number and my wifes numbers, then routing numbers, acct numbers, etc. etc. THEN they tell me it will be 19.99 to e-file my State Return PLUS $39.99 for their feeforthe "Convenience". This is BULL**bleep** !!

I have been using turbotax for years, but this will be my LAST TIME !

The figure that by the the time I have entered all of the data I would just say the hell with it and just pay the extra money when I got to that screen. Well, I almost did say and do that.

But after a minute or so, I said NOPE !!  This year I am going to say something. So, I am going to look at different companies that provide this service and tell TurboTax to take a hike.

[DoninGA]

---

@Stonecgi wrote:

I have the same comment and critique.

After asking me tons of questions about my drivers lic number and my wifes numbers, then routing numbers, acct numbers, etc. etc. THEN they tell me it will be 19.99 to e-file my State Return PLUS $39.99 for their feeforthe "Convenience". This is BULL**bleep** !!

I have been using turbotax for years, but this will be my LAST TIME !

The figure that by the the time I have entered all of the data I would just say the hell with it and just pay the extra money when I got to that screen. Well, I almost did say and do that.

But after a minute or so, I said NOPE !!  This year I am going to say something. So, I am going to look at different companies that provide this service and tell TurboTax to take a hike.

---

The prior answer for using the online editions.  You are using the desktop CD/Download editions.

The state e-file fee that is currently $19.99 has been included with the desktop editions for over 15 years.

The Pay with Refund fee has been a part of both the online and desktop editions for over 20 years.  

If you do not want to pay the $39.99 fee for the $19.99 charge, then do not select that option.

If you do not want to pay the $19.99 state e-file fee, then print and mail the state tax return

Every tax preparation software service provider charges a "Convenience Fee" to pay account fees with a federal tax refund.  This is nothing new.

[Stonecgi]

thanks for demeaning reply. The tone of your reply just further pushes me toward looking for a new tax return provider. I have always been a promoter and user of TurboTax. But you guys seem to make it very difficult to choose between what versions to use etc.

[WTP]

You replied: "Every tax preparation software service provider charges a "Convenience Fee" to pay account fees with a federal tax refund.  This is nothing new."
  
Well, that $40 "Convenience Fee" is not true for TurboTax Deluxe in the past, nor for tax year 2024.  Good thig, too!  I *was* going to find another tax software product for 2025 after seeing the VERY POORLY worded "$40 Refund Processing Fee".

I used TurboTax Deluxe 2024 (Download only, no more CD) purchased at Costco (FYI Costco includes a $10 discount on any "add-ons", such as state tax e-filing bringing it down from $25 to $15).

A few screens before submitting the Federal and State e-file, a screen popped up displaying Federal e-file as $0, and state e-file as $15 (after the $10 Costco state e-file discount).

But when finally clicking on "Continue" to submit both the Federal and State e-files, another screen popped up stating that Federal e-filing is required and that there is a $40 "Refund Processing Fee" which I could choose to pay via credit card or deducting the $40 "Refund Processing Fee" from my Federal refund.

That language needs to be significantly changed! It clearly appears that there will be an unannounced (until *right then*) $40 "Refund Processing Fee".

I called the TurboTax 800.358.6057 product support number, replying "Representative" to the automated voice recognition, and was told by a very patient and courteous representative that I should click on 'Pay by Credit Card' (because I needed to pay the State e-file charge), enter my credit card details and then saw ONLY the State e-file charge, no $40 "Refund Processing Fee"!

I was close to never using TurboTax again, only calling the 800 number and being guided through the credit card process saved the day, and future use of TurboTax.

 Spread the word! 🙂

[VolvoGirl]

Yes you have to go SLOWLY and read all the screens and watch which button you click on.  People get going too fast at the end to file and click on the wrong button, (the right button to continue).

[WTP]

It wasn't the right button ("Pay With Federal Refund") clicked on (instead of the "Continue" button that I found confusing - I never clicked on that).  It was the "$40 Refund Processing Service fee" that made no sense at all.  I found *nothing* that indicated that there was such a fee all the way through entering all the documentation, nor on the cardboard case of the Deluxe 2024 product.  Moreover, a few screens earlier it listed the charges as: 'Federal e-file as $0', and the 'State e-file as $15' (after the $10 Costco add-on discount).

So, from where did the "$40 Refund Processing Service fee" come?  I was rather distrustful of clicking on 'Pay with credit card' and then entering my credit card details without knowing if it would display the final total ($15 in my case) and permit me to back out if that that errant $40 was assessed.  What it actually did after clicking on "Pay with credit card" was just display the total for the State e-file and then offered the 'Submit' (?) button to make the payment.  I'm still mystified about the $40 fee that was never charged (and should not be) being displayed without identifying that fee applying *only* to the "Pay with Federal Refund" button.

One browser search yielded: "The $40 processing fee is to pay the TurboTax fees from your refund. You can avoid this charge by paying instead with a debit or credit card. That is optional. The Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge (45 in California) is if you want to have the fees deducted from your federal refund."

That text above would have been *much* clearer.  Or possibly better with something like:
At this point your total fees (some may be $0) are:
$0 for first 5 Federal e-files,
$nn for the 6th+ Federal e-file fee(s),
$nn  for n optional product add-on state e-file(s),
$nn for optional add-on audit protection,
$nn etc. optional product add-ons...

Select one fee payment method:

1) If using a credit card all your fees listed above.
2) Or, if using the "Pay from Federal Refund" a "$40 Refund Processing Service fee" will be added to all fees listed above.

[VolvoGirl]

You didn't see that screen shot I posted above?  It says what the $40 is for.  I bought mine at Costco too and only paid the $15 to efile my state return.    Wait a minute,  are you sure you are getting hit with the $40 processing charge? Did you enter your credit card and get charged the $15?   Did you file yet?  Did you get your refund?  When you get your refund see if it comes directly from the IRS or from the 3rd party bank SBTPG and if it is reduced for the 15+40.  

[WTP]

Yes, I did see your screenshot.  On that screen where does it state or imply that the $40 is solely related to the "Pay with Federal Refund"?  FWIW, I am getting a Federal refund, and owe my state.

Answering your questions:
I just filed today (2025-04-11), so obviously, no refund yet.
Yes, I only paid $15 for the state e-file.
No, the $40 fee was not listed, only the state e-file fee).  I did not pay the $40 fee when clicking on "Pay with Credit Card".
Yes, I did enter all my credit card details while on the phone with a TurboTax pleasant CS Rep.    Once CC details were accepted, it provided a button to submit the payment to my credit card, I did submit that $15 charge.  And as I wrote above, it showed only the state e-file fee and nothing about the $40 fee.  Intuit can't reduce my refund when it's coming from the IRS.  All my previous federal tax refunds have been deposited directly from the IRS.

[VolvoGirl]

So what is your issue with the $40 Refund Processing Service charge?  You didn't use that service.  You paid the state efile fee  upfront with your credit card.  That's only if you want the $15 efile fee deducted from your federal refund.  Then your refund would go though another bank to take the fee out.  

[WTP]

As stated in most of my previous replies (did you actually read them??), my issue with the $40 Refund Processing Service charge is that it is not described as applying ONLY to the "Pay with Refund" button (don't recall the exact text, the *right* button).  It *appears* that it will apply to all refunds, even "Pay by Credit Card".  As repeatedly mentioned in my replies, in detail, that needs significant rewording - DO BETTER!

I'm not the only one who interpreted it that way, there are plenty of people in the Community who have reported it and stated that they will not use TurboTax in the future because they believed that they would be charged the $40 fee when paying by credit card.  

[VolvoGirl]

Don't know what else to tell you.  Except the $40  is only on the the How to pay the fees screens.  NOT on how to get your refund like by Direct Deposit or check.