Last step before e-Filing, Keeps wanting me to pay for Audit Defense to continue.

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 13, 2020
6 replies
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I bought my TurboTax Premier PC version from Costco. It says I get a free State return.

After finishing inputting my information, I am on the "File" tab process for my TurboTax Premier PC version.

As I am clicking through the steps, I get to the "Payment" step.

It tells me in summary that filing my Federal taxes is free, State of California filing is $24.99 (why?), and asks if I want the "Audit Defense," which I already said no to before.

I click the "Continue" button, but it leads me to the "How Do You Want to Pay?" which I am confused because I didn't click "Add Audit Defense."

It only gives me the options for "Pay with your Credit Card" and "Pay with your federal refund."

I can't get past this step without this phase.

Please help.

Best answer by xmasbaby0

When you use desktop software you get the software to prepare the state return, but there is a fee to e-file the state return. So you either agree to pay the $24.99 or you can choose to print, sign and mail your state return to avoid the state e-file fee.

xmasbaby0Answer

Employee

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Leann15

I understand about the state filing but how do I avoid paying for the audit defense, this is a product I do not need? It won't allow me to choose the option of not purchasing, it only keeps asking how I would like to pay.

Hammydad

I agree. I'm at the same place you are. Did you get a satisfactory answer?

Kenny2375

It won't let you go past the Final Step. Keeps asking to buy the Audit Defense for $45. Very annoying!!! 🙎

Kenny2375

I've been through the same thing, so I called TurboTax Support team. First two persons didn't know what to do. The third one knew her stuff very well. I had to share my screen so she could walk me through. She told me to click on the "Pay By Credit Card" button. I refused but she convinced me to proceed. So, I did. And to my surprise, that was indeed the part that I needed to pay for the $20 State e-filing fee, NOT the $45 Audit Defense fee. Now, both of my Federal & State returns have been accepted. Then, I checked my bank account and credit card, and saw only $20 was charged to my credit card, nothing to my bank account.

M1J2

Thank you for sharing. It worked. Still waiting for a rep to pick up

evelyncita

I am in the same situation, I don not want the Audit Defense but I wish to pay for e-filing my California taxes with a credit card. The system does not allow me to go further. Please help

CarissaM

You are commenting on an older thread. have you tried following the advice by @Kenny2375 above? If this does not work, please click the link here to contact us by phone. @evelyncita

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

massasauga

I'm getting the same thing. I clicked the option to skip Audit Defense and then after filling up all the fields to pay for e-filing federal and state taxes I see there is a box to select the "Add Audit Defense" option. I scroll by that and the $45 fee for Audit Defense is displayed. I think this will be my last year using Turbo Tax.

It gets worse every year.

VolvoGirl

Employee

Are you in California? If you want to have the fees deducted from your federal refund there is an Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge (45 in California).

In the California Desktop program to remove Audit Defense and Premium Services you have to change to pay the $20 or 25 state efile fee by credit card and not by having it deducted from your federal refund. Or print and mail state for free. Go back through the File tab again and change to pay with a credit card. Then if Audit Defense is still there you can remove it.

In the Online version, If you are in California you need to remove the Premium Service first

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-remove-premium-services/00/26266

DMDRWD

Thank you!! This worked.

JoAH

What you bought was TurboTax with Federal download and e-filing and one FREE state download but no state free e-filing. Yes, it wants you to buy the audit defense and the state e-filing. Go back a couple of screens and print the state forms and mail them in. Or pay the $25 for state e-filing. If you have a very complicated filing with stocks, rentals, complicated dependents, itemized deductions, purchase and sale of home, lot of charities, causality losses and your probability of audit risk is in the red -- buy the audit defense.