Why does Turbotax say the service is free and then charge 244 dollars even if no refund has been released?

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

Only very simple returns are free. You are posting from the very expensive Live Self-Employed which gives you access to a live CPA to help you.  That is NOT free.  The fees for using TurboTax are not based on whether you receive a tax refund.  The fee is based on using the software to prepare your tax return, whether you get a refund or even if you owe tax due.

Did you file and now you are waiting a long time for your refund?  

"...charge 244 dollars even if no refund has been released?"  Is this the issue?

TURBOTAX TOOK MONEY OUT OF MY BANK ACCOUNT

Did you choose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund?  Is your refund taking an unusually long time to arrive?  Or was your refund seized to pay a debt you owed? if so, you signed an agreement that says TT can withdraw its fees from your account.  TurboTax would have sent several emails to you before they took the money out of your account.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901364-why-was-my-bank-account-auto-debited-for-turbotax-fees