Turbotax Downgrade
Athina Dollison
I am VERY DISAPPOINTED with QB On-Line and customer service. I received an $860 charge on my business credit card for Qb Plus when I only wanted QB Essentials. I'm a consultant and don't need inventory, payroll, or some other features. I called QB customer service and was told I can downgrade, but I have to pay the $860 for QB Plus and $270 for QB Essentials. WHAT? That isn't a downgrade, it's a ripoff.
I called my bank (Wells Fargo) and disputed the $860 payment. All I wanted to do was downgrade to QB Essentials and then keep working with QB. Now they have suspended my account, and my ONLY OPTION is to "RESUBSCRIBE" at the $860 level. This is highway robbery.
Yes I paid for the US subscription. I received a very LARGE charge for QB Online on a recent credit card bill. I called QB On-line customer service and told I would have to pay the credit card charge and if I wanted to downgrade I would be charged for the downgrade sub subscription IN ADDITION to the credit card charge. Despicable.
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Unfortunately, once you have upgraded or added features to your TurboTax return, there is no way to downgrade or remove the extra features. You would need to create a new return to go back to the original product.
Using Windows Classic Premier and contemplating downgrading to Deluxe. I assume I can still download and import files from Vanguard and other institutions using the Deluxe version? And I assume if for some reason I found Deluxe lacking in some regard I can switch back to Premier?
I downgraded from Premier to Deluxe and wasn't a huge difference for me. The only thing to keep in mind is don't convert until your current subscription expires. I put my new Deluxe subscription code a few months early (thinking it would convert me at the end of my Premier subscription) but it converted me immediately.
Premier does have some extra investing related features, but they may or may not be valuable for you. Here is what I know is different between Premier and Deluxe. You should be able to search the Help to learn more about these features. [updated per comments below]
Now there is what @jfclague just mentioned. Whereas they have allowed for "extending" a subscription, by changing the ending date to 12 months after the expiring, there isn't any way to have the subscription to be for Deluxe and Premier at the same time, and no "delayed" change over.
For its part, H&R Block has denied wrongdoing and in March, filed a lawsuit against the FTC related to the agency's complaint. Here's more of what you need to know about that cause of action and the FTC's original complaint.
According to the FTC, consumers who try to downgrade to a less expensive H&R Block product are unnecessarily forced to spend time and effort contacting customer service. When customers finally succeed with the downgrade, they are penalized by having their data wiped, which forces them to start over.
That order followed a $141 million Intuit TurboTax settlement, last year, which stemmed from allegations of consumers paying for products after being tricked into believing they were filing for free.
The IRS also recently launched a free Direct File pilot this tax season, which allows eligible taxpayers to file their returns directly with the agency. Direct File has been limited to select taxpayers in 12 states, but the IRS is starting to expand access to the program.
Katelyn has more than 6 years of experience working in tax and finance. While she specialized in tax content while working at Kiplinger from 2023 to 2024, Katelyn has also written for digital publications on topics including insurance, retirement, and financial planning and had financial advice commissioned by national print publications. She believes knowledge is the key to success and enjoys providing content that educates and informs."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Katelyn WashingtonSocial Links NavigationFormer Tax WriterKatelyn has more than 6 years of experience working in tax and finance. While she specialized in tax content while working at Kiplinger from 2023 to 2024, Katelyn has also written for digital publications on topics including insurance, retirement, and financial planning and had financial advice commissioned by national print publications. She believes knowledge is the key to success and enjoys providing content that educates and informs.
H&R Block also makes it difficult to downgrade from a paid tier to its free tier, according to the FTC. If you start your return with H&R Block Deluxe (which currently costs $35 for a federal return and $37 per state return) and realize you can file for free, you have to call H&R Block to downgrade or contact a customer service agent via live chat. There isn't a button you can just click online, unlike TurboTax. All of your previously entered tax information may be deleted.
"H&R Block designed its online products to present an obstacle course of tedious challenges to consumers, pressuring them into overpaying for its products," said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a press release.
"H&R Block has offered a free DIY filing option for more than 20 years to help millions of Americans file their taxes," Redler said in an emailed statement. "The multitude of resources we offer to all filers via educational resources, free tools, and calculators, and The Tax Institute demonstrates our commitment to making filing your taxes more accessible and more transparent for all."
I've been a TurboTax loyalist since 2019, but filed my taxes with H&R Block for the first time earlier this year. My tax situation was covered under H&R Block Free online. I did not qualify for TurboTax's Free Edition this year.
Reports of TurboTax's deceptive marketing practices also influenced my decision. Even last year, I flirted with the idea of filing my taxes with FreeTaxUSA, because it was a cheaper alternative that was not under the FTC's microscope. But I could not forgo TurboTax's ease of use for DIY filers. FreeTaxUSA, despite its compelling price, felt like too much of a technological downgrade.
With H&R Block, I found a free edition that offered a very similar user experience to TurboTax. The free help and resources were extensive and the software allowed you to upload many tax forms, which limited the amount of information I had to enter manually.
H&R Block's attempts to upgrade you can make you feel anxious about whether you completed your taxes correctly. But it's important to remember that if you know you qualify for free going in, you shouldn't have to pay anything if you don't want to.
Most online tax software now is also built to catch mistakes for you. And thanks to 100% tax accuracy guarantees offered by companies like H&R Block, you'll get reimbursed for IRS penalties and interest charged to you in the event online software makes an unexpected error on your tax return.
Most online tax software companies will try to upsell on a higher tier or push you towards an add-on service that can help you file your taxes with more confidence. But If you don't want to be bombarded with offers, there are a few flat rate and even free options for you to consider this year. None of the options below offer the ease of use TurboTax and H&R Block provide, however.
If you prefer to use TurboTax, H&R Block or another tax service because you believe you qualify to file for free, we recommend you start with the free tier. Upgrading tiers is much easier on these services than downgrading. You may have to start your return all over and at the very least you'll have to Google how to downgrade because the option isn't that easy to find.
Should you be asked to upgrade, double-check that you're covered as part of the company's free tier. You may not be if you added a form that excludes you from free filing. Keep in mind that no two free tiers are the same in the wild world of DIY online tax filing.
In some cases, the company can update what forms and schedules it accepts as part of its free tier at its discretion. At the bottom of H&R Block's list of supported free forms, it says the list is "subject to change." This means you could qualify for a free basic return at one point in the year and not later. Always be sure to read the fine print and if you have any questions, reach out to a tax professional.
Were you ever TurboCharged, TurboTaxed, or TurboUpgraded? Not so on eFile.com; you can start with any service (Free, Deluxe, or Premium) as you will automatically get the Free Basic Federal Edition if you qualify based on your tax interview questions. For all paid services, eFile.com is up to 60% less than the Turbos or Blocks out there: Dare to compare now. Plus, on eFile.com, you will have your own personal Taxpert support page where you can post specific tax questions and get personalized answers. See an example of your personal support page.
On some credit card related sites, if you file your taxes there, your tax information will be used to solicit credit cards, loans, and other products or services to you. On eFile.com, your tax data is only used for your tax return(s). Period! We do not solicit any other products nor do we share your data with anybody but the IRS and the required parties for if you choose to deduct your fee from your refund (EPS Financial and Pathward Bank). See how eFile practices advanced security and keeps your data safe.
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