Double charged

[stormhunter27]

I'm super frustrated right now.

I have self employed income and my wife does not. I do a joint file when I do our taxes because it's quick and relatively painless.

However, when I went to file, TT wants to charge me twice for upgraded returns. I have no problem paying for mine as I do have self employment income. However, it makes zero sense to be paying another 60$ for my wife return when she does NOT have self employment income.

I called the help line and all they told me was "Oh sorry, TT doesn't have that option to only pay for one." I was floored by this, but she recommended filing singly. 

However, when I did that, bringing in the info from last years returns made me file jointly again.

To say that I'm annoyed is putting it mildly.

[TurboTaxSusan]

If you are preparing your returns together with a spouse, then both returns are in the same file, so both will be using the same version of TurboTax. So, even if only one of you is self-employed, you'll both be using the self-employed version, and will both be charged the same. 

If you don't want to use the same version as your spouse, you can prepare your returns separately. A few pages in, TurboTax will ask if you only want to transfer info from both spouses or only one. 

[stormhunter27]

So, I'm assuming that this means I need to redo both sets of taxes from scratch?

[TurboTaxAniqua]

Yes, you do have to start from the beginning if you decide to prepare the returns separately.

[firewhirl]

I am self employed but my wife is not. I am charged both returns as self employed. Not fair.

i will not use turbotax again.

[TurboTaxSusan]

@firewhirl If you are preparing your returns together with a spouse, then both returns are in the same file, so both will be using the same version of TurboTax. So, even if only one of you is self-employed, you'll both be using the self-employed version, and will both be charged the same. 

If you don't want to use the same version as your spouse, you can prepare your returns separately. A few pages in, TurboTax will ask if you only want to transfer info from both spouses or only one. 

[Jiva]

I had a similar experience. I was filing taxes for my mother who passed away in 2024. I cannot file for my parents as a couple due to this. I have to file separately which is fine but I was charged double when I filed for my father. Called customer service and after going through the return again said there is a bug and I should file my mothers taxes, get double charged, call customer service and wait 3 weeks for a refund. What kind of solution is that? Will never use this garbage again. I have to overpay because they don’t fix their bugs. I’ve been a customer for 10 years and now I’m done.