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Level 1

Solved

Purchased Turbo Tax Deluxe. Ad says 5 free Federal Efiles, 1 free State Efile. I am getting charged for my state efiles. Why am I not getting my free state efile?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 6, 2019
16 replies
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TurboTax Free Edition Online

Best answer by DoninGA

It is one free state program download. Not one free state e-file. The state e-file charge is currently $19.99. This charge can be avoided by printing and mailing the state tax return.

DoninGA

Answer

Level 15

It is one free state program download. Not one free state e-file. The state e-file charge is currently $19.99. This charge can be avoided by printing and mailing the state tax return.

Brandis13

Level 2

How do I get the free STATE

VolvoGirl

Level 15

@Brandis13 What version do you have? You need to be using the Desktop CD/Download program Deluxe or higher to download a free state program. Just go to the state tab and it should ask if you want to get your free state. Be aware only the state download is free.

In the Desktop program you get one free state PROGRAM download to prepare unlimited state returns. Then each state return (including the first one) is $20 to efile, usually goes up to $25 March 1. Or you can print and mail state for free.

Psb

Level 2

after completing review it asked me to buy State (CA) e-File for $24.99 then while transmitting it kept finding errors on form 8949 and won't let me efile. So I am forced to print and file - that's ok. But how do I get a refund for the e-file charge $24.99?

PSB

Psb

Level 2

Is there a Phone number to speak to a live person at Intuit/TT? I don't see a contact Us button anywhere

mesquitebean

Level 15

@Psb wrote:

Is there a Phone number to speak to a live person at Intuit/TT? I don't see a contact Us button anywhere

Here's how you can contact TurboTax Support during business hours.

When they are open, you can use the form at the link below to schedule a call back, or it may provide a number. 5AM-5PM Pacific (8AM-8PM Eastern).

https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact

Where the form asks what product you are using, be sure in the dropdown menu to indicate "CD/download" and the proper operating system, then indicate which Edition.

In the issue line, just say billing issue without quotes.

NUP2K

Level 2

I've used Intuit Turbo Tax for many years. This is the first year that I did not receive the one complementary FREE Virginia e-file. They're getting a little greedy it seems! Love the product but this doesn't seem right!

mesquitebean

Level 15

@NUP2K wrote:

I've used Intuit Turbo Tax for many years. This is the first year that I did not receive the one complementary FREE Virginia e-file. They're getting a little greedy it seems! Love the product but this doesn't seem right!

There is no free state efiling in the desktop software except for New York state. There is a 19.99 fee to efile each state return in early filing season; increases to 24.99 later in filing season. This has been the case for several years.

In desktop software that says it has an included state, that is for the program to prepare the state return. If one to chooses to efile the state return, then there is the state efiling fee, except for NY. There is no fee to print and mail the state returns.

jazzman32

Level 2

I have been using Turbo Tax for my entire family for at least 15 years. The advertisement on the box always says FREE Federal e-file & 1 FREE State e-file. One state electronic file has always been free until 2019. This year the cost to e-file our state return is $19.99. Agree with all of the other comments, this is very misleading and not what I've been used to for all these years. On top of this fee, there is an additional $39.00 fee if your getting a refund sent to your bank. This has always been FREE as well. I'll be looking for alternative tax software next year for sure. Very disappointed with Turbo Tax.

ThomasM125

Level 15

The fee for having your TurboTax fees deducted from your refund is not new, it was always there. There are bank costs associated with processing the refund and paying part of it back to TurboTax.

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ccox80

Level 2

Don't feel bad turbo premium made me pay for my first state. didn't feel like waiting on line to question it so just paid to get it over with. will use a different program next year.

anonymous2

Level 4

Agree with everything said on this thread. The only honest way to read the promotion is one free estate prepare + one free state e-file. This is a electronic tax preparation program for goodness sake. That's how 99pct of people are using this. OK, Turbo Tax. You've squeezed out 25usd from me but lost 1000s over the course of coming years.

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Read the packaging.

Did you purchase desktop software with state software included? They sell Deluxe both with and without state software--so you have to be careful which one you choose. And even if it does have the state software download included, that is for preparing the state. There is an extra fee to e-file the state. You can avoid the $24.99 state e-file fee if you print and mail the state instead of e-filing it.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

bibiana1pinzon

Level 2

I used TT Deluxe to efile my 2019 State Taxes. I received a copy of it staying that TT collected the efile fee, TT had processed them and I didn't need to file them via regular mail. To my surprise, when I am trying to file my 2020 taxes, CA Franchise Tax Board informed me that they NEVER received my 2019 State Taxes from TT. I need to talk with a TT representative to know why this happened, and TT filed them IMMEDIATELY and also pay for all penalties. I have NEVER be late filing my taxes every year. I trusted TT when I am filing my taxes. I have tried to call the TT customer service but the robot call is misleading my requests and I have to wait for a long time. When finally someone answered my call, the representative hang up or put me on hold and then hang up. MAY SOMEONE FROM TT CONTACT ME TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM YOU CREATED WITH MY STATE TAXES? THANKS.

KathrynG3

Level 14

To reach out to TurboTax, see: What is the TurboTax phone number?

Keep in mind, if you did not actually download the California state return into your software, it was never prepared.

For more information, see: Download TurboTax State (Windows)

How do I prepare a 2019, 2018, or 2017 tax return?

lwarren7011

Level 2

Pure greed on the part of Intuit. They haven't been loyal customer friendly since that got to big for their breeches.

ACCOUNTDOESNOTEXIST

Level 2

RIP OFF!! I paid $50 for the 2020 CD. How can you justify charging $25 to efile my CA return when CA charges 0 to efile? I will NEVER use TurboTax again. Screw you and the horse you rode in on.

AllisonArndt87

Level 2

Doing taxes always sucks, but I've used Turbo's website + the free edition for ages & it's been the least objectionable method available (when the state file was extra, I just vetoed their upcharge & used the WI free efile). My job's categorized as "self-employed" so the last couple years I was forced to use the $60 version - so this spring I snagged the comparable Deluxe cd @ a retail store when it was on sale...but installed the desktop version instead of just entering the code online. BIG MISTAKE -- that made things WAY worse this time (even though my only difference was some brief stim check/Covid-related items) & the 1 included state file probably got negated w/ all the drama, so that was the key. Luckily that anger-making $20/$25 loophole is approx. the markdown I got up front, so that's the distinction. Turbo SHOULD do better re: the clarity of their different options + which applies to your situation (NOT after the fact) but realistically, most of the legit services/products do this kind of stuff (they're not charities)...so like most things in our capitalist economy, it's about shopping around & deciding the cost/benefit ratio for your specific scenario : /