Unfortunately, the promotion for free state file if you use Federal Free
Edition, as well as the discounts for all TurboTax Online version ended
3/16/17. Federal Free Edition will be free for federal
even after the sixteenth, however it too will include a charge for
state. State is a separate fee in any of the online editions.
See pricing here:
If you choose to deduct the TurboTax fees from your refund, SBTPG
(Santa Barbara Tax Products Group) opens a temporary bank account in
your name at one of their 2 banks--Civista Bank of Sandusky, Ohio or
Green Dot Bank. They receive your funds from the IRS, subtract the fees,
then send the rest of your funds on to your bank account in a second
direct deposit. Then they close the temporary bank account they set up
for you. There is a 34.99 service fee for that option (39.99 in
California, where it is bundled with Premium Services.)
You can avoid the Refund Processing fee by paying your TurboTax fees with a credit or debit card instead.
Here's how to remove the Refund Processing Service before you e-file:
- Sign in to your online return, if you're not already signed in.
- Click File in the upper right corner and proceed to the Just one more step screen.
- On this screen, click the first Revisit link (next to You've chosen to deduct your TurboTax fees from your federal refund).
- Click View Payment Options on the next screen, and then select Pay with credit card on the screen after that.
- Complete payment by entering your credit or debit card information.
- Continue to the Just one more step
screen to make sure the Refund Processing Service has been removed.
Step 1 should now show that you paid with your credit or debit card
Please
note that once your e-filed return is in pending or accepted status,
it's too late to remove the Refund Processing Service.
However,
if your return gets rejected and you decide to file a paper return, the
Refund Processing Service and related fees, if any, drop off anyway
because Refund Processing is only available on e-filed returns.
