Why am I being charged? Questions about program fees

You may see a charge on your account for one or more of the following reasons: 

• ✅ Simply Free eligibility requirements were not met – Your tax situation includes forms, income, or filing options that are not supported by the Simply Free program.
• ⬆️ Your return was automatically upgraded – Certain features or tax scenarios require a higher program level.
• 💵File & Go was selected – You chose to have filing fees deducted from your refund, which includes an additional processing fee.

The sections below explain each of these situations in detail so you can understand where the charge came from.

🔄 Why Was My Return Upgraded?

Your return may be upgraded when you choose features or tools that are not included in your current program level.

⭐ Common Reasons for an Upgrade

• 📞 Priority Customer Support
• 💬 Live Chat feature
• 👨‍💼 Ask a TaxPro-Access to tax support professionals
• 🧾 Preparing more complex tax scenarios
• 🚫 No Longer Eligible for Simply Free

🔎 How to See Why You Were Upgraded

You can view the exact reason for your upgrade by following these steps:

1. 📄 Go to Review
2. ➡️ Select Print Results
3. ❓ Choose: Why was I upgraded?

TaxSlayer will display the feature or requirement that caused the upgrade, along with the associated cost.

In E-file:

1. ➡️ Go to the E-file section 
2. 👁️ Click Show Details under Products & Services
3. ❓ Choose: Why was I upgraded?

🚫 No Longer Eligible for Simply Free

The Simply Free program is designed for basic tax situations. If your return includes forms, income, or credits outside the Simply Free criteria, you may be required to upgrade to a paid TaxSlayer product.

🔍 Common Reasons You May Not Qualify

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Claiming a dependent
• 📑 Filing status other than Single, Married Filing Jointly, or Surviving Spouse
• 👩‍💼 Reporting self-employment income (Schedule C)
• 🏠 Reporting rental or royalty income (Schedule E)
• 📈 Reporting investment, capital gain, retirement income, etc.
• 👴 Reporting Itemized Deductions or credits

Once an item that requires a paid level is added, your return is automatically moved from Simply Free to Classic.

🔗 Learn more about TaxSlayer programs

🧭 How to Review Your Fees

To review your charges at any time:

1. 🔐 Log in to your TaxSlayer account
2. 📄 Select Review
3. ➡️ Choose Print Results

In some cases, you may be able to remove optional features prior to e‑filing.

💰 What Are File & Go Fees?

File & Go allows you to pay TaxSlayer fees using your federal or state refund instead of paying up front.

ℹ️ Important Details About File & Go

• ➕ A processing fee applies for using this service
• ➖ The fee is deducted directly from your refund
• ✅ File & Go is optional

If you prefer not to use File & Go, you may pay the program fees by credit or debit card instead.