What is the $45 premium service charge for?

[neilman2u]

I purchased tt deluxe in january, and upon completing my return, I was prepared to e-file both my federal and state returns.  I declined the audit defense, but my screen captures showed that I was charged additionally $45 for 'premium service'.

[xmasbaby0]

"Premium service" is an EXTRA $45 fee in CA that is added if you choose to pay your other TurboTax fees by having them deducted from your federal refund instead of by paying upfront BEFORE you file by using a credit or debit card to pay.   Are you e-filing a state return?  If so, if you pay the $25 state e-file fee from your federal refund instead of by paying using your own credit card, you are getting smacked with an extra $45 fee to allow a third party bank to receive your federal refund, take out $25 for TT, keep the $45 for itself, and send you the rest.

[neilman2u]

Thank you for the explanation but this is still frustrating.

I tried to pay by credit card but their drop-down menu would not reveal the '01' month for me to select no matter what I did to get around the issue, e.g. adjust the display setting on my Windows 11 operating system. 

I should have returned this program to Costco. Unfortunately, it is already 4/15 and I didn't want to bother with an extension, since I have elderly parents to take care of.

I may be done with TT, esp. considering that they have a wealth of data on me that they sell to who knows(?)

Cannot get a live person on their chat, which seems to be replaced by an AI, and after finally getting a live person on the phone, he (London) turns out to be super-rude. I have choice words for him. This is a real scam...

[yd4]

If you choose to have the fees (example state filing fees) taken from your federal refund, they go through a third party, and thus charge the $45.  If you pay by credit card that fee is not charged.

[wma]

This charge is unreasonably high for just processing a payment. 

Second, it is not disclosed when prompted to make the choice.

You would have to go back and change the selection if you notice it at the last step.

This seems to be a deliberate scheme for tricking most people to use the small

convenience with the hidden fee. Wait for the class action law-suits.

[xmasbaby0]

How can I see my TurboTax  fees? 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/review-fees-turbo...

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons     (BEFORE you e-file) :

• Remove Premium Services
• Remove MAX Defend & Restore
• Remove a state
• Remove PLUS Help & Support
• Remove Pay With Your Refund

[wma]

The name "TurboxTax Premium Service" is very deceiving. It seems to be suggesting that it is an mandatory fee for using some Premium Service. In fact it's just a payment transaction fee. It is designed to confuse users as it is not explained when the user is prompted to make the selection.

[xmasbaby0]

If you are in CA and you choose to pay your TurboTax fees by having them deducted from your federal refund--instead of paying upfront with a credit card or debit card----you get "premium services"  for $45.   Premium services is only used in CA.  In any of the other states, "refund processing" or "pay with refund"  is $40 for having the fees deducted from your refund.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-product-orders/premium-services/L...

[bnkhoi]

Not true.  I owe a fed due and want to pay from my checking account.  On the other hand, I'm supposed to get a refund from the state of California and I'd like a direct deposit into my checking.  I'm still asked to pay the $45 premium service.  Is there a way to avoid this $45 fee?

[MonikaK1]

The $45 premium service fee may be for paying your TurboTax product fee from your refund.  If you pay for TurboTax Online directly, you could avoid having this additional charge. 

If you haven't filed yet, you can change your payment method in TurboTax Online following these steps:

1. Sign in to your account and open or continue your return.
2. Select File in the left menu and proceed to the Just X more steps screen.
3. On this screen, select Revisit next to You've chosen to deduct your TurboTax fees from your federal refund.
4. Select View Payment Options on the next screen and select Pay now on the screen after that.
5. Complete payment by entering your credit or debit card information.
6. Continue to the Just X more steps screen to make sure the Pay With My Refund has been removed.
7. Step 1 on the screen should now show that you paid with your credit or debit card.

See this help article for more information.

@bnkhoi