TurboTax Full Service - Microsoft Discount

[Julian95]

If I use the TurboTax Full Service option as a Microsoft Employee with MetLife legal plan. How do I apply the discount I get as equivalent benefit of the free self tax filing tools?

[JamesG1]

You would apply for the discount when selecting the tax service.  Have you discussed this with your tax preparer?

To access your MetLife Legal Plans benefits, visit https://login.legalplans.com/register to log in or create an account. Then under ‘Debt Matters,’ select ‘Tax Preparation & Filing’ to access your benefits. (edited) 

[Julian95]

I am doing this and this is exactly where I am stuck at. So when I select Tax Preparation & Filing then it opens a Dialog that  states: 

To ensure your MetLife Legal Plans discounts are applied, please always access your TurboTax account by going through the MetLife Legal Plans member site here.

So when I am doing this I land on this page:

There it is giving me the options to "Get started", but I don't want any of those. I want the discounted Full Service and there is no explanation on how to get there/how to apply the discount. So from here I don't know how to get the Full Service. Therefore I created a personal account on my own and did not access TurboTax through the MetLife deep link. Only then I am able to choose the Full Service option, but now the question remains on how to apply the promised discount?

[DawnC]

You have to use the link from Met Life to get the discount.   From the event link here in the community:

REMINDER — TurboTax DIY products are included with your MetLife Legal Plan benefits!  As a MetLife Legal Plans member, you can: 

• Prepare and file one federal and one state tax return with any TurboTax do-it-yourself product at no additional cost
• Work with a dedicated TurboTax expert to prepare and file your taxes at a discount
• Access the TurboTax refund calculator, tax bracket calculator, planning checklists and other helpful tips

To access your MetLife Legal Plans benefits, visit  https://login.legalplans.com/register to log in or create an account.  Then, under ‘Debt Matters,’ select ‘Tax Preparation & Filing’ to access your benefits.  Use the link from your Legal Plans account to access TurboTax - - the discount is automatic if you file from the Met Life Legal Plans link.   

[Julian95]

As mentioned, the image I attached is my Link entry point to open TurboTax from the MetLife site.

 On there you can see there is no Link to choose Full Service option to a discounted price, there are only the 3 "Get Started" Self filing options available. The discounted Full Service is only mentioned via text what I circled red. So how am I suppose to choose this option from there?

[MarilynG1]

Once you click on Get Started, you'll be starting a return in TurboTax Online.  Once you set up a User ID/Password, you'll answer a couple of questions, then should get a screen offering choices. 

Even though prices are quoted, you'll get the discount associated with the link you came in on.

@Julian95 

[BusinessDesigner]

I am having the same challenge. I started with Intuit Premium online, but it is missing the feature to edit a form directly. I need a license to TurboTax Premium (download) but can't figure out how to apply the discount from the legal plan. The offers online include online versions and additional human assistance. Please advise.

[VolvoGirl]

The download Desktop program is very different than the Online version.  And there is no Premium version in Desktop.  It is called Premier.  If your discount is for Online Turbo Tax then it doesn’t cover the Desktop download program.  

Start again from your legal plan’s website and see if they have a discount to buy the Desktop program.

[BusinessDesigner]

Thanks for the clarification. I understood Full Service to include the downloaded version of *Premier.

Frustrating that the online version of Premium is not allowing me to appropriately account for passive income from a short term rental property.

[SharonD007]

The Full Service product means the tax expert does everything, from preparing, signing, and e-filing your tax return.  If you need to mail your return, you will have to print and mail.  It's all done online, you don't get to download a copy.  If you need a downloaded copy you will need TurboTax Desktop.

For more information, review the TurboTax Help article What is TurboTax Live Full Service? 

You can use TurboTax Premium for your short-term rental. You will report your short-term rental on either Schedule C or Schedule E, depending on the type of service that you provide.

Refer to the TurboTax article Should I report my rental on Schedule E or Schedule C? for more information.

Refer to the TurboTax article 10 Tax Tips for Airbnb, HomeAway & VRBO Vacation Rentals for information regarding short-term rentals.

[BusinessDesigner]

@SharonD007 thanks for the reply.

Schedule E is correct. The problem is there is no way to toggle passive / non-passive income in the online version like you can on the form. Such a simple thing that is holding back my submission.

Please let me know if I am missing something.

[AmyC]

Yes, follow these steps:

1. Please return to your Sch E
2. Edit
3. select the property and edit
4. the next question is the key to passive or active - the program asks if you spent 750 hours, real estate agent, etc. 
   • If you select one of the top two choices, your income is not passive. 
   • Select none of these apply, it is passive.

@BusinessDesigner 

[BusinessDesigner]

For those that follow this thread, here is where things landed:

1) Microsoft Benefit through MetLife legal plans only covers online version of TurboTax. You can apply the 'value' to a full service or chat support for an additional fee.

2) Short Term Rental: the online version (2024) doesn't effectively support STR submissions. I spent 3.5 hours on chat with TurboTax tech support and a CPA to make adjustments to my return. It will only apply deductions if you are considered a Real Estate Professional. You also have no access to the actual forms.

3) Intuit TurboTax Premier (software download) was able to pick-up where I left off online and allow me to complete the form as expected. Once I confirmed that it qualified as non-passive income, the deductions applied correctly. I've submitted my Federal return and it was accepted.

The CPA (via chat) was apologetic for the time it took and the inability to file as I needed. Unfortunately they could not provide access to the software version without me paying full price for a license. This was frustrating after paying for tax preparation as a part of the legal benefit.

Bottom line, if you have an STR, start and end with the Premier software version. If you have the Microsoft benefit, know that this is not included.