I am being charged a fee ($29.99) to file my State return by using information from my 2015 Tax Return, but I did not file my 2015 taxes with TurboTax.

[betsy-trinklein]

How can I avoid this fee?

[NoahL]

Then the fee is most likely for filing your state return as this is a $29.99 fee

Unfortunately, the promotion was free state file if you use Federal Free Edition until 3/16/17. Federal Free Edition will be free for federal even after the sixteenth, however it too will include a charge for state($29.99). State is a separate fee in any of the online editions.

See pricing here:

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

If you are eligible you can use the TurboTax Freedom edition which is free to file both a federal and state tax return.  The Freedom edition is on a separate website from the TurboTax online editions.

To qualify for free 2016 federal and state tax returns in Freedom Edition, you'll need to meet at least one of these requirements:

•     A maximum 2016 adjusted gross income (AGI) of $33,000; or
•     You qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); or
•     You served as active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a maximum 2016 AGI of $64,000 (you'll also need a military-issued W-2).

See this TurboTax support FAQ on the Freedom edition - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-freedom-edition

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the difference between the Freedom edition and the Free edition - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2572617-what-s-the-difference-between-freedom-edition-and-federal-....

And see this TurboTax support FAQ on how to switch to the Freedom edition - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-freedom-edition

Also if you're wanting to use our Freedom Edition, here are all the forms that can be covered through this product - https://turbotax.intuit.com/modals/taxfreedom-forms/