Not free, no help when the IRS sends a letter, and still waiting for refund four months later
By Walker-jh2
I used the TurboTax app to file my refund in early February. The app was relatively easy to use, but it did get old going in circles sometimes. Unfortunately, the free option really is not usable. If you have to file state taxes like just about everyone, then you will have to pay $40 per state. If you’re a college student in another state like me, that means two states so $80. Of course, no student discount. Honestly, that was not too bad since I was supposed to get a lot back.
Unfortunately, that was not what happened. I did get some from one the state returns, but that was it. The IRS sent a letter for a health insurance form that didn’t even apply to me. If you want help with that, guess what? It will cost you even more money! At that point, I wasn’t paying TurboTax any more so I went off on my own. Eventually I got it figured out, but not without massive disruption to my school work. None of that help was thanks to TurboTax which sends you to FAQs that don’t really apply.
They have online discussions which appear to have many people with the same problem. This program is made to look easy- and it is at first- but the headache it causes later is not worth it. Never had trouble like this with H&R Block so I think I’ll go back to them next year. Whatever you do, don’t use TurboTax. It is seriously not worth it. Still waiting for that federal tax refund BTW.
Annoyed, frustrated, disappointed
By Tippadee
The last two years I had to have my taxes prepared elsewhere, but for more than a decade before that, I used TurboTax and was always really happy at the ease, convenience, and minimal cost, so I didn’t think twice about returning this year!
TurboTax used to cost $0 to maybe $40 a couple of years ago. Now the service they advertise in this app as “free” cost me $125 total (although they have not presented me with a receipt or a way to verify this as of yet, so who know what it will be down the line!). The worst part is they weren’t open about the charges along the way or remind you of your costs or what certain tools you have to purchase, so if you work on and return to your return, good luck remembering why you’re being charged for anything! They also don’t openly present alternative cheaper methods, they present the option like you don’t have a choice while still advertising FREE (I did not want, need, or choose PREMIUM SERVICES but somehow ended up paying $40 for it), they don’t let you change your mind or adjust your “order”, and I still don’t have a receipt to verify anything, nor is the information present in the app to verify.
Proceed with extreme caution. EXTREMELY disappointed with the cost of TurboTax this year and will think twice about using them in the future.
This is a joke
By J.ro9
I used turbo tax all the time when I was younger, it used to cost very little or nothing at all. Now even what’s advertised isn’t what you pay, you click no to all the premiums and extras and still end up paying $150 to file? That’s happened to me two years in a row, the biggest and last reason I will never use turbo tax again came this year. I was out of work due to Covid-19 like so many others, unemployment is backed up, my personal life feel apart, and I was broke as can be. I was checking the IRS website daily hoping for an update on my stimulus check so I could like keep my lights on. Every time I get the message about information not available and just assumed they hadn’t processed my return yet. A month, an entire month goes by, and I check and still haven’t gotten it, and still getting the same message on the website. I thought I should check my turbo tax again, I had received emails from turbo tax just about they’re standard spam mail. I never once received anything personal, signed into my turbo tax only to see that my tax returns had been rejected. I waited a month for nothing with no notice or anything like that. I will only use an in person CPA from now one, this website is a joke. There’s a reason there’s a viral video of a 13 year old working for them.
Misleading tread lightly
By TheinfamousA
Now it was very easy to file for the first time on turbo tax. they explained everything in detail as to what it all meant and where to find certain information. For filing everything correctly. However after I imputes that I had a HSA account I was told I have to pay for the deluxe service which would cost 60$ and I had no option to not get deluxe or to even see what the deluxe service offered. So i decide to go ahead and pay because I don’t know many people who have dealt with a health savings account. Now upon finishing my taxes I was not aware of the extra 50$ charge for state taxes that came part of the deluxe packs which I was told was only 60$. Then I was given the option to pay upfront or pay with my tax refund I choose to pay with my refund, because it wouldn’t affect my refund to much. It wasn’t until I was completely ready to file that I was told it would cost 40$ to pay the fee with my refund taxes dude!!! WHAT THE HECK why aren’t y’all up front about these cost it was never told to me anywhere that it would cost to pay with my refund nor was I told about the extra 50$ for the state taxes, but I was forced to get the deluxe package and they don’t even explain why I need it. Yea I won’t be using them again.
TurboTax is a joke now
By Johnster343
Filed my taxes for 2017 and it went great. No issues, good customer service. Filed for 2018 and it erroneously told me I owed $1591 to NYS and only got $945 for my federal refund. I made $40,000, claimed zero, I’m 21 and single. Spent an entire hour with one of your customer service representatives in “smartlook,” while she tried to guide me through the app to explain why I owed. I told her I’ve looked through the app and it doesn’t give an explanation. After 45 minutes I asked for a supervisor, or a manager. She said she could only type to her “team leader.” She then proceeded to google “why would someone owe money to NYS,” and read various generic possibilities from a forum on GOOGLE. I spent 50 minutes to get an “expert opinion” from someone sitting in there house with zero information, zero training, and zero ability to admit their inability to answer my question. This service is a joke. Then when I tried to get advice from a “tax advisor,” you guys asked for $120. This is not how you run a business. First I wait for 20 minutes to speak to someone who might as well be my neighbor who delivers pizzas. I want a discount or some type of service. You guys wasted an hour of my life that I could’ve spent making money. You obviously don’t stand behind your customers.
Payment “not processed” - double charged
By Sea nice
I have the mobile app. It shows it was free in the beginning. At the end it basically gave me no option but to pay, which I have no problem with. It turned into $40 to $120. I was okay with it because they changed me owing $260 on my taxes to only $11 so I expected to pay close to that amount anyway. I end up asking to take from my refund returns and it showed they would do so for $40 extra dollars. I’m at this point getting irritated but choose to go through with it. It kept sending me to the payment option although I wanted it taken from my refund. I then got frustrated and reverse the payment option with just paying with my credit card. After putting in my credit card, it started processing then shows the page had no connection. I said “okay let me try again”. I did it again, same thing happened. Now I go to my discover app and it shows TurboTax charged me TWICE but on the TurboTax app it shows the payment hadn’t processed at all. I’m beyond irritated with Turbo Tax. I’ve tried to get in contact with customer service line - received no call back. I’m frustrated and will never do my taxes on this app again. If I don’t receive my refund soon, I will be contacting my lawyers.
Price is very misleading
By xxlovecrystal
I’ve used turbo tax for years and didn’t have issues. Always used their free version. This year I had to file for 2 states. One of their questions was confusing and I had to call and ask. To ask a question, they have you upgrade your version. It said it was about $40 to upgrade. I wasn’t super pleased having to pay $40 for a question, but figured I’ve had my taxes done for free for a few years now so not a huge deal. The person I was talking to didn’t know the answer and had to look it up, and then gave me the wrong answer. Then, when I finished my taxes, I saw the price is not just $40 altogether - the price is $40 for federal, and $40 for each state. That turns what was represented as just $40 to $120! And I can’t file without paying it. $120 to ask a question? That wasn’t even answered correctly?? And now that I’ve waited to file, the price went up. I got an email that I can get 25% off, but when I go to the app I can’t use it. Now I noticed in the fine print, some discounts you can’t use in the mobile app. I don’t even have a computer. Honestly this is very disappointing. I’ve recommended TurboTax to many people and now I don’t even think I’ll use this anymore. Pretty ridiculous.
TurboTax is going downhill
By Sarah R 2018
I originally used TurboTax in 2015. It followed by the IRS saying my information was obtained and steps to follow. From talking with other individuals and research, it sounded like this happened to TurboTax users. I switched to a different company, TaxAct, to complete my 2016 taxes. I returned to TurboTax in 2017 as it sounded like more security was in place and they had the flexibility of mobile filing. For someone who doesn’t have a working computer, this was a great option! Unfortunately, upon filing, the IRS rejected my information since I did not provide information from the previous year. TurboTax did not highlight this from the get go, but they had to problem requiring me to sign up for several other fees - the site required me to sign up and when I pressed the back button to go back to review my options, it kept refreshing the page until I agreed to the fee to continue. For me, TurboTax is not there for its customers and is not seeing the big picture - making filing taxes easier. I guess at the end of the day when I talked to a representative, my understanding is Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I would suggest looking into another company, since TurboTax is not like it used to be.
A worse value every year
By GeminiDog7
This is my 3rd year using TurboTax and I get gouged and worse service every year. The ads say that it’s free in most cases. The first year I needed to pay $40 for the standard deduction... ugh fine. The second year I was charged $40 for the standard deduction and $40 to file state taxes; really?!? Whatever at least if you pay $40 more they will just pay you out when it was accepted by the IRS and you can at least have your money quickly. This year $120 and the IRS paid me but Intuit hasn’t yet so I paid $40 to delay my refund essentially.
I guess my main question is, “who are these most people who get theirs free?” I have an extremely modest income and my only deduction is student loans. That is $80 right there since it’s $40 for state taxes. How many people could possibly have no deductions or state taxes? I doubt the majority. I tried to get info or voice my displeasure but the live chat doesn’t ever work for me and calling on the phone just tells me to call the IRS... but they already paid me! So where is the support so I can get information on why I haven’t gotten it yet? This will be the last year and I’m calling all my friends that I actually recommended this app to and telling them about this!
Think you’re all good? Juuuust wait
By H&RBlock4my2021
Two years in a row, this app has auto populated data into my returns that made them get rejected. Last year, I didn’t even realize the rejection because I was too busy and not scouting for my returns, but discovered just in time to miss out on student loans through Fafsa. This year, because of negligent wording on their questionnaire, I was rejected again. I spent hours on the phone today with Turbo Tax, and while their “concierge of concerns” who answered did point me in the right direction, it took hours for even her to figure out how to deal with the issue! Not to mention, because I had a single “off” gig event that paid $188 on a 1099, they required me to buy a $120 program to process it. I was then told that they had lost my payment from last year and that to rectify their own auto-populated data, I was going to have to buy the software and mail in my returns. Thankfully I found a receipt on THEIR OWN WEBSITE and got them to provide the previous year’s program without charge, but I do still have to file through mail A YEAR LATE. This site is a mess and I used to put up with it because it was a way to just get the taxes done, but I guess I’ve learned my lesson.
