Level 2

Question

How do I opt out of Audit Defense?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 1, 2019
11 replies
0 views

I can't figure out how to opt out of Audit Defense. I even select to get it and then have it removed, but the only option I can see is to pay for it with my refund or by credit card. I don't want to do either. Please help. This has been very frustrating, and Turbo Tax does not have a good help desk system - no way to speak to someone.

TurboTax Deluxe Windows

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Lynn770Author

Level 2

I saw your answer at your help desk, and I tried following those directions. When I clicked on file I did not find anything like step 1 or start. What I saw did not follow your directions or steps. Please help.

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Damay

Level 2

I tried the "Best Answer" to opt out the "Audit Defense Charge $44.95". When I clicked "file", I only saw 2 "Remove" options under "remove state return" and "remove imported data"'

There was not a "remove Max benefits" at all.

Therefore, the "Best Answer" did not work at all.

We, as a Turbo Tax user community must resolve this problem all together and hope Turbo Tax resolves this forced sale error.

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mesquitebean

Level 15

@Damay wrote:
I tried the "Best Answer" to opt out the "Audit Defense Charge $44.95". When I clicked "file", I only saw 2 "Remove" options under "remove state return" and "remove imported data"'
There was not a "remove Max benefits" at all.
Therefore, the "Best Answer" did not work at all.
We, as a Turbo Tax user community must resolve this problem all together and hope Turbo Tax resolves this forced sale error.

You appear to be using the desktop version (CD/download), so that's why you didn't see the steps in that answer you mentioned which was for Online TurboTax, and your situation has nothing to do with MAX. MAX is a product only for ONLINE TurboTax. The desktop software does not have MAX, so ignore anything you see about MAX, which pertains to Online TurboTax only. I can tell you how to avoid or remove Audit Defense in the desktop product.

You didn't say anything about your situation, so I'll make some assumptions. How to remove Audit Defense depends on whether you are in California or not. Since I don't know if you are in California or not, I'll mention both methods below. This problem seems to crop up more for California filers, however, as explained below.

If you are in California and choose to pay the state efile fee of 24.99 out of the Federal refund, then that requires the addition of Premium Services for 44.99. Premium Services is a bundle of benefits that includes Audit Defense, ID monitoring and restoration, the ability to pay out of the Federal refund, etc. If you are being billed for Premium Services (with Audit Defense), then you were not being billed for standalone optional purchase of Audit Defense. And thus you cannot remove Audit Defense independently by the usual method. You have to either decline or remove Premium Service (and thus Audit Defense) by paying upfront with credit/debit card instead of paying out of the Federal refund.

You may not have actually ended up with Premium Services if you didn't actually select to pay your fee out of your Federal refund. It may just be showing that and offering you that possibility of paying by that method. If you are going to pay upfront with credit/debit card, you can just continue on to pay the 24.99 on subsequent screens, and that will prevent it from adding Premium Services (and Audit Defense.)

i.e., the correct way to remove Audit Defense in California when it is bundled in Premium Services is to choose to simply pay your 24.99 state efile fee by credit/debit card. If you chose to pay the fee out of your Federal refund, go back and change it to credit/debit card instead. Or if you haven't chosen to pay out of your refund, simply proceed forward and pay by credit/debit card. When you review your order, be sure it is only charging you the 24.99 plus possible sales tax.

For those filers NOT in California who want to remove add-on Audit Defense chosen in error, one can go to the REVIEW tab, select the subtab "Audit Protection", navigate past the Audit Risk meter, and then scroll way down on the Audit Defense screen and decline Audit Defense.

Again, that method will not work in California where Premium Services is used, unless a California filer did happen to select standalone Audit Defense purchase in error in the same way that another state might select it in error. In California, the usual method to remove or decline Audit Defense (bundled in Premium Services) is to simply choose to pay the state efile fee of 24.99 by credit/debit card. That avoids Premium Service and thus Audit Defense.

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Lynn770Author

Level 2

Can I get someone to respond to my problem?

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jvhermann

Level 3

These solutions do not work! I have also been on the phone with Tech Support and they also have no solution. There is a glitch int the systems that is effectively holding us for ransom to e-file our taxes. They are essentially forcing us to purchase Audit Defense at $45 before we can proceed. SURELY there are enough users having this same problem that it warrants Intuits attention. I simply do not know how to get them to listen. Any ideas?

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whimsi24

Level 2

I had the problem last year ( I thought). I was reading it wrong. Look at it again and the prompts.

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Lynn770Author

Level 2

I still need help solving this problem. My tax return is complete and I want to remove Audit Defense, but the system will no let me. Please reply today. Thank you. Don't you have a chat room where someone can lead me through the solution to this problem?

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Suki2014

Level 2

It looks like lots of your clients are upset with tax audit there no good it's going to bring your ratings down

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whimsi24

Level 2

I am having the same problem and may not use turbo tax again

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cyneswith

Level 2

I've had this problem 3 years in a row. It's classic bait and switch fraud. For the previous 2 years it has taken an actual phone call to the Support department to get instructions to opt out. Every year they promise me it's a known issue and it'll never happen again, but it does. And this year the support department is even harder to reach. This is my last year with Turbo Tax

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larkspirit

Level 2

If, as you say, this has been a known problem for several years, it appears that TurboTax has deliberately left the glitch in. I clicked "no" three times to remove the audit defense as something I wanted to buy. And despite my clear indication that I didn't want the service, the software still would not let me file.

Finally I paid the ransom and TurboTax accepted my money (my bank says so). But I still can't file my taxes because Turbo says I didn't pay---so, back to the endless loop.

Needless to say, this is the last time I will buy or use TurboTax. There's an element of contempt toward consumers in this company's practices since it has known about this problem for some time and refuses to fix it.

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Lynn770Author

Level 2

I finally got a resolution on this problem. I was able to have someone call me from Turbo Tax call me and walk me through it. As I remember, there were only two options - pay for Audit Defense with your credit card, or with your refund. That seems like you are being forced into purchasing Audit Defense. But the person who helped on the phone walked me through it and I got it resolved. TT definitely needs to change how they do this. They also need to make it easier to get in touch with someone to help you, rather than these canned solutions/answers to questions. I don't even remember how I finally got in touch with a live person, but when I did, she was very helpful.

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jvhermann

Level 3

These solutions do not work! I have also been on the phone with Tech Support and they also have no solution. There is a glitch int the systems that is effectively holding us for ransom to e-file our taxes. They are essentially forcing us to purchase Audit Defense at $45 before we can proceed. SURELY there are enough users having this same problem that it warrants Intuits attention. I simply do not know how to get them to listen. Any ideas?

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cyneswith

Level 2

This solution only works for the online version. It doesn't work with the download version.

AkinaLO

Level 15

You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. Please follow the instructions below to remove MAX Benefits. https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4842224

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

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rwonders

Level 2

This is an incorrect solution. You do not know what you are talking about. There is NO left hand menu on 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe for selecting the "file" option. The only file option is at the top menu bar and it does not contain anything remotely similar to what you have described for removing Max Benefits or Audit defense. One should not have to go through this to opt out of obviously deceitful marketing scheme to get one to pay for a service they do not want. Not sure how one gets to be a "Turbo Tax Specialist" but Intuit needs much better training for those trying to help with issues/questions. Can you please offer a real remedy for opting out of this useless audit defense FOR 2019 Turbo Tax Deluxe.

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gm1959

Level 2

I found a solution!

I talked to a support rep for about an hour. She asked me to try things left and right, with no vail. Then finally, I found the solution.

Under REVIEW tab, click Audit Protection. It will tell you you audit risk with a color bar. Click Continue, you should see the page in picture below. Just below the red shield, you should see a button with some fine prints to opt out ( I don't remember exact wording). It worked for me. I live in TX, no State tax (Horay!). So the State Tax route did work for me.

Turbo Tax 2019 $44.99 Audit Defense Coverage -

I cannot remove Turbo Tax 2019 $44.99 Audit Defense Coverage from my returns. My total in the review is the CA State Filing for $24.99, but Turbo Tax keep adding the $44.99? All the suggested options from Turbo Tax Reps DO NOT WORK. Their video is out dated. I have Turbo Tax Deluxe, with no file options on the right side of the screen. What are my options, I do not want to be force to pay for a service that I may not use...

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TerukoL

Level 13

You can remove Audit Defense by removing MAX Benefits. as long as you haven't already paid for it. Please click Can I remove MAX? to learn more.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

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Alien1943

Level 2

I selected NO on the audit defense and its forces you to pay the $45 how do we get rid of this

DoninGA

Level 15

@Alien1943 wrote:

I selected NO on the audit defense and its forces you to pay the $45 how do we get rid of this

If you are using the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions and you selected Audit Defense then on the following screen for the summary for what you are getting with TurboTax, click on Remove for Audit Defense.

If you are using the TurboTax online editions see this for removing Max - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/can-i-remove-max/01/26691

If you are a California resident see this for removing Premium Services - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-remove-premium-services/01/26266

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grasam

Level 2

I did not understand what this involves and hit the wrong

information, Please cancel to keep me from being more frustrated.

Thank you

Grace hartzler

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TiffanyL

Level 11

May I ask have you already paid for Audit Defense? Also are you are California filer?

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

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dushman

Level 2

it Works !!!!!

So with you as California user who chose that payment option, then to get rid of Audit Defense and avoid the 44.99 service fee you have to remove Premium Services and choose to pay up front by credit/debit card or a prepaid debit card you can buy in a store. Once you remove that "pay out of refund" method, i.e., Premium Services, and continue on to pay up front with a card, it should only charge you the 24.99 plus possible sales tax.