Turbo Tax pricing for State Return

[Parman18]

I have used Turbo Tax for years to file both my federal and state income taxes. I have always purchased the Deluxe version which included filing state return for free. The only additional charge had been for efiling my federal return, which was $25.00. This year when I was about to work on my state return I amt informed it will now cost me $45! What is now the total cost for filing a federal and state return using Turbo tax Deluxe? Can I purchase a version of Turbo Tax that includes free state return?

[DoninGA]

The TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions include 5 free federal tax return e-files.  There is a state e-file charge that is currently $25.  There has been a state e-file fee using the desktop editions for at least the last 20 years.  This e-file charge can be avoided by printing and mailing the state tax return.

The $45 charge you are seeing probably for Audit Defense which is optional.  You can remove this charge in the Payment section in the File menu.  Click on Remove under the Audit Defense charge of $45.

Go to this TurboTax website for the charges that can be assessed when using the desktop editions - https://turbotax.intuit.com/desktop-pricing

[Parman18]

Thanks for reply. In my current version of Turbo Tax Deluxe, which I purchased in February 2024, I cannot get into the state return unless I charge the $45 fee to my credit card. It has nothing to do with Audit Defense.

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

Did you purchase the Deluxe desktop edition from TurboTax or from another retailer?  If not from TurboTax the Deluxe edition you received may not include a free state program download and that is why you are being asked to pay the $45 charge to download the state return.

Other retailers will have the Deluxe edition as either with or without the state program included in the purchase price.  Check with the retailer website to see exactly what was purchased.

[Parman18]

Probably right. I did purchase the download from Amazon and just assumed that it included the free state return.  Thanks for responding