TurboTax Online Only Shows the Most Expensive Packages. Beware!

[mollylou]

When I used TurboxTax online version to file my taxes this year, I could not find the "Deluxe" version I had used in the past several years. Turbotax's web interface only presented the "Deluxe Live" version to me, and never once presented the "Deluxe" version to me throughout my filing process. After I filed my tax, I went online to see if other people also felt that Turbotax's 2021 filing fee was too expensive, and I found the USNews article (https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/technology/tax-software/turbotax) listing that the "Deluxe" version should be $59 and the "Deluxe Live" $119. I then realized that TurboTax willfully withheld information on its web interface, and by only presenting the most expensive products on the web interface, the users were coerced into buying the more expensive products, rather than the most appropriate product that meets the users' needs, because the users were never presented those options to begin with. This is dishonest business practice by TurboTax. I asked Intuit to refund me the unnecessary and unused "Live" service fee, but TurboTax's arrogant representatives refused to refund the $60 for a service I neither needed nor used.  

Other customers of TurboTax, be very wary of using TurboTax Online, because it will find ways to cheat your hard-earned money and get you to buy their more expensive products. 

[xmasbaby0]

There are two tabs----the one on the left  says  "You can do it" and shows the "regular" online software versions.

The one on the right shows the "Live" versions---that one says "real experts help or do it for you."

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

[DanP0428]

If Deluxe was never offered to you, then you selected options that Deluxe does not cover.  Self-employment, rental property, sale of a home, royalties, and investments require Premier or Self-Employed.  

[SweetieJean]

Scroll down after opening this:

TurboTax® 2021-2022 Online Tax Software, Easily E-file Income Taxes Online (intuit.com)

[mollylou]

@DanP0428  Your answer is incorrect. The only difference between "Deluxe" and "Deluxe Live" is that before filing, you have the option to speak with a "Live" tax expert who can review your return one more time before filing it away. I didn't use the "Live" service, yet I am still charged the "Deluxe Live" fee of $119. It is only after I read the USNews article that I realized I had been deceived by TurboTax's misleading website. 

[DanP0428]

Please let me know what was wrong in my answer so I can correct it.

[Charger25]

Just experienced the same thing the original poster saw, but this time with the online TurboTax for filing 2024 returns.  I was never shown the Deluxe version.  It started this year by wanting me to use Premium Live.  I had no interest in live features.  So I set it to Basic.  It then said I had tax calculations that were beyond basic and offered Deluxe Live, which was cheaper.  It never showed me Deluxe.  Fast forward a week when I'm helping a friend.  When they log on it starts with Deluxe.  This person had all the same calculation types as I did.  We set it to Basic.  As expected it said Basic was not enough, but showed them Deluxe again.  So that's how I know Turbo Tax games things with its customers.  Contacted customer service.  Same deal ... will not refund the difference between Deluxe and Deluxe Live, even though I did not use the Live "features" and had no interest in them.  I thought it was all they offered now below Premium, not realizing they were lying by omission.  Customer Service said online products are not covered by a customer Satisfaction Guarantee like desktop.  Apparently scamming people online is just acceptable to TurboTax.  I will no longer be a customer and will no longer recommend the product after this experience.  

[biermeister]

My son was just ripped off by Intuit in a similar manner today. When he explained to me what happened, I was horrified. He is 25, single, and had super boring taxes except for a single dividend. Turbotax online told him he could no longer use the free version, and must instead upgrade to *Premium* (?!) and pay $150 (???!!!), double the available cost elsewhere. All parts of this statement are madness, and highway robbery. Very disappointed in Intuit for this predatory behavior.

[xmasbaby0]

If he had self-employment income from Uber he was required to prepare a Schedule C for his expenses like mileage.   Only online Premium can prepare a Schedule C.  Or....any version of the desktop download could have prepared a Schedule C.   

[biermeister]

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@xmasbaby0 wrote:

If he had self-employment income from Uber...

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Thanks for the idea, and apologies, that was a missed voice-to-text error. Fixed now, but should have said "super simple", not "uber boring" (lol). No, this was BS.