Why did you (Intuit) begin scamming people, and using false advertising DURING A PANDEMIC??? I trusted you.....

[Kingofthe0]

This year I lost my job due to COVID, filed my taxes got to the end (making sure to select free options) and was prompted to pay 140$, saying I had clicked on the wrong version. So what did I do? I deleted my taxes and did them a SECOND TIME. Only to be prompted again after making sure to click the free version. Super super scummy that they began these shady practices the year we have a pandemic. Honestly the worst company out there. I'm sure your going to delete this post cause your all about silencing dissent and advertising falsely and hurting low-mid income people. I requested a refund, you said nope. I went to the better business bureau you asked me to provide my case number, which I did in the documents section. I just don't get it? I pay you 50$ each year, but the year I get my job taken from me by a pandemic you decide to falsely call your product FREE, FREE, FREE and charge people extra money. I hope your ashamed. 

[Kingofthe0]

PS: Guess what I'm looking AT RIGHT NOW? An advertisement for FREE TurboTax, which we all know DOES NOT EXIST. IT IS 100% separate website, and 100% separate account for a free file. Don't get scammed. [removed]

[VolvoGirl]

The Free versions and online versions have not opened yet.  Not until sometime in December.

In the  Turbo Tax Free Edition, information that you can enter is limited. Why do I have to upgrade from the Free Edition?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/upgrading/help/why-do-i-have-to-upgrade-from-free-edition/00/26379

Or find another program on the IRS Free File website,  they may have different limits to qualify.

[Critter-3]

Ok ... here are  the brass  facts : 

1) only the IRS FREE FILE options you get thru the IRS website are always  free  if you qualify (fed and state)  BUT  you must log in thru the IRS site ONLY  ... if you start by using any participating  program's regular website you are locked into a program with a possible fee attached.   https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/about-the-free-file-alliance

If you qualify you can use one of the  8  IRS FREE FILE options that will be available mid January ... (for 2020 your AGI had to be  $72K or less) ... they have not posted the 2021 income limits yet.  ...  https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

2) if you started with the TT ONLINE  free option on the TT website  (not thru the IRS FREE FILE system)   and you have a situation that is not supported with their  free program then the requirement to  upgrade is presented and the associated fee is clearly posted.  At that point you could have stopped and chosen a different path to complete your return.   If you fail to read and understand what you are doing then this is on you... ask at that time for help.    Once you have paid the online fees there is a no refund policy.  FIY ... all the DIY programs have this same policy.

3) if you use the downloaded version there are no FREE options ... payment is due upfront before you download the program.   So if you did not complete the 2020 return before the online system closed then your options are to pay for a downloaded version, get the paper forms and manually fill the forms in or use a local tax pro.  

4) Read the menu on the TT website carefully ... the FREE option has limitations ... it ONLY handles the form 1040 ... if you need any of the Schedules (1,2 & 3) then upgrading will be needed.   https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/

[Kingofthe0]

This is primarily in response to them denying my better business bureau request for a refund. They are using false advertising, and there is certainly ads on THIS website for free turbo tac at this moment in time. 

[Critter-3]

There IS a FREE TT version on the TT website ... always has been.  Not to be confused with the TT FREEDOM option on the IRS FREE FILE site ... those are totally separate programs ... always has been.

 FYI ... starting with the 2021 returns  neither TT nor H&R Block will be participating in the IRS FREE FILE alliance  any longer  so there should not  be any further  confusion by there being 2 free options with the same company.

[Kingofthe0]

So I made sure to click free BOTH times last year and ended with 140 because I was unemployed. Pretty scummy if you ask me. Btw made less than 15k last year and still was prompted to pay for deluxe. So I don't understand why they are denying my refund. I didn't use there deluxe service AT ALL.

[Kingofthe0]

Denying my refund of deluxe service (90$) state costs 50$ and I usually pay that. I'm disputing there [Profanity Removed] 90$ charge. 

[Kingofthe0]

Good thing they aren't offering that anymore. Hopefully they aren't allowed to false advertise.

[Critter-3]

The reason the claim for a refund was denied was because the online program has no refund policy once you paid it ... since you are not required to pay until you want to file the return it is presumed you are satisfied with the product.  Once you pay you have full access to the entire return and if you need to make corrections before you file you can.  If you need assistance you can call TT support to get help.  Even if you don't use the program to efile the return you still have access to the entire return that can be printed and mailed in so again no refund is allowed since you had full use of the program.  

This would be like going to a restaurant and eating the meal you ordered and expecting to not pay or get a refund of the fee you did pay  when there was nothing wrong with the meal you consumed.  

Going forward please read all the fine print on all the screens no matter which program you use so you understand what you are getting into.  

[Critter-3]

So I made sure to click free BOTH times last year and ended with 140 because I was unemployed. Pretty scummy if you ask me. Btw made less than 15k last year and still was prompted to pay for deluxe. So I don't understand why they are denying my refund. I didn't use there deluxe service AT ALL.

Again... you were on the WRONG site ... you had to use the IRS link to the free file option to get the totally free return.   Once the program told you to upgrade for the unemployment you should have asked at that time ... we post the info on the IRS site all day long...  it is not a secret. 

[Mike9241]

*A simple tax return is Form 1040 only.
Situations covered by TurboTax Free Edition

W-2 income
Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV
Claiming the standard deduction
Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)
Child tax credits
Student Loan Interest deduction
Situations not covered by TurboTax Free Edition:

TurboTax Live Basic, and TurboTax Live Full Service Basic

Itemized deductions
Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
Business or 1099-NEC income
Stock sales
Rental property income
Credits, deductions and income reported on schedules 1-3

[Critter-3]

On the TT website there are form restrictions for the FREE option: 

*A simple tax return is Form 1040 only.
Situations covered by TurboTax Free Edition

W-2 income
Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV
Claiming the standard deduction
Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)
Child tax credits
Student Loan Interest deduction

Situations not covered by TurboTax Free Edition:

TurboTax Live Basic, and TurboTax Live Full Service Basic

Itemized deductions
Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
Business or 1099-NEC income
Stock sales
Rental property income
Credits, deductions and income reported on schedules 1-3s

On the IRS FREE  FILE site ... only income limitations apply ... that site handles all tax forms and situations. 

[Kingofthe0]

Again than this Is FALSE ADVERTISING YOU CANT CALL SOMTETHING FREE IF IT IS NOT.

[Kingofthe0]

There should be fine print posted with the free button, or they shouldn't say it's free AT ALL.