Have you found yourself knee-deep in your tax return, only to realize you've somehow ended up with a TurboTax Premium subscription when a simpler version would suffice? Perhaps your financial situation changed, or you simply clicked through too quickly. Don't worry, you're not alone! Many users find themselves in this exact predicament. The good news is, it's often possible to downgrade or remove the TurboTax Premium tier and potentially save some money. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, step by step, ensuring you navigate the complexities with ease.
How to Take TurboTax Premium Off: A Step-by-Step Guide
The process of "taking TurboTax Premium off" can mean a few things: downgrading your current tax return, cancelling an Advantage subscription for future years, or simply switching product tiers. We'll cover the most common scenarios to ensure you find the solution that fits your needs.
Step 1: Understand Your Current Situation and What "Premium" Means for You
Before you do anything, let's figure out what kind of TurboTax Premium you're dealing with. Are you currently working on your tax return within the TurboTax Online platform and see a Premium upgrade applied? Or are you referring to an annual subscription like TurboTax Advantage that automatically renews for the Premium tier?
Scenario A: You're currently using TurboTax Online and have been upgraded to Premium for your current tax return. This often happens if your tax situation involves things like self-employment income (Form 1099-NEC, 1099-K), investments (stocks, crypto, bonds, ESPPs), or rental property income. TurboTax automatically prompts you to upgrade to a higher tier like Premium if it detects these situations. Your goal here is likely to downgrade to a lower-cost online product.
Scenario B: You have a TurboTax Advantage subscription set to automatically renew at the Premium level. This is a subscription service that provides you with the latest TurboTax software year after year. If you no longer need the Premium features or wish to stop the auto-renewal altogether, you'll need to manage your Advantage subscription.
Scenario C: You haven't paid or filed yet, and you just want to start over with a simpler version. This is the easiest scenario!
Take a moment to identify which of these scenarios best describes your situation. This will dictate the path you need to follow.
Step 2: Downgrading Your Current TurboTax Online Product (Scenario A)
If you're in the midst of preparing your current year's taxes with TurboTax Online and find yourself in the Premium tier, here's how to attempt to downgrade. Keep in mind that if your tax situation truly requires Premium features (e.g., self-employment income or complex investments), you might be prompted to upgrade again if you try to file with a lower version.
Sub-heading: Accessing the "Switch Products" Option
Log In to Your TurboTax Account: Go to the TurboTax website and sign in with your Intuit ID.
Open Your Return: Once logged in, make sure you're in the tax return you're currently working on.
Navigate to Tax Tools: On the left-hand sidebar of the TurboTax interface, you should see an option for "Tax Tools." Click on it.
Select "Switch Products": Within the "Tax Tools" menu, look for and click on "Switch Products" or "Clear & Start Over." The exact wording might vary slightly depending on the tax year and specific TurboTax interface.
Sub-heading: Downgrading or Clearing Your Return
Option 1: Downgrade (If Available):
If you see a "Downgrade" option after clicking "Switch Products," select it. TurboTax will then present you with different product tiers (e.g., Deluxe, Premier, Free Edition, if applicable to your data).
Carefully review the features of each tier to ensure the one you select still covers your tax situation. If you downgrade to a version that doesn't support certain forms you've already entered (like Schedule C for self-employment), you'll be prompted to upgrade again.
Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your downgrade.
Option 2: Clear & Start Over (If Downgrade is Not Available or Preferred):
If the "Downgrade" option isn't visible, or if you simply want a fresh start, select "Clear & Start Over."
WARNING: This action will erase all the data you've entered into your current tax return. Only proceed with this if you are absolutely sure you want to start from scratch.
After clearing your return, you can then select a different TurboTax product that better suits your needs and budget. This will essentially take you back to the beginning of the filing process.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations for Downgrading
Payment Status: If you have already paid for your TurboTax Premium online product, downgrading might be more complex or not directly possible through the online interface. In such cases, you might need to contact TurboTax customer support (see Step 4).
Features Needed: Be honest with yourself about the complexity of your tax situation. TurboTax Premium offers features essential for self-employed individuals, investors, and rental property owners. Downgrading to a lower tier that doesn't support these forms will mean you can't file accurately.
Data Loss: As mentioned, "Clear & Start Over" means all your entered data will be lost. Ensure you have copies of all your tax documents before proceeding with this option.
Step 3: Cancelling Your TurboTax Advantage Subscription (Scenario B)
If you're dealing with an annual subscription like TurboTax Advantage that auto-renews at the Premium level, here's how to manage it. The goal here is to prevent future charges for a service you no longer need or want at the Premium tier.
Sign In to Your Intuit Account: Go to the Intuit (TurboTax's parent company) account management page. This is usually different from the direct TurboTax filing page. You can often find links by searching for "Intuit Account" or "TurboTax Advantage Login."
Locate Your Subscriptions/Products: Once logged in, look for a section related to "Products," "Subscriptions," or "Membership."
Manage or Cancel Membership:
You should see your TurboTax Advantage membership listed.
Look for options to "Cancel Membership," "Remove Product," or "Change Membership."
Follow the on-screen instructions to either cancel the auto-renewal entirely or to adjust the product tier (if an option to switch to a lower tier within Advantage exists).
Pay close attention to any deadlines mentioned for cancellation. If you've already received the product for the current tax year through Advantage, you might need to request a refund within a specific timeframe (often 60 days of receipt).
Sub-heading: Auto-Renewal and Refund Policies
Cancellation Deadlines: Be aware of the cancellation deadlines for TurboTax Advantage. If you miss the deadline for the current tax year's product, you may still receive it. In this case, you might be eligible for a refund, but you'll need to initiate a refund request.
Refund Requests: If you received a TurboTax product through Advantage but no longer need it, visit the TurboTax support website and search for their refund policy or a "Refund Request Form." These forms are typically online and require you to provide details of your purchase.
Step 4: Contacting TurboTax Customer Support
There are instances where the self-service options might not be clear, or your specific situation is more complex. In these cases, reaching out to TurboTax customer support is your best bet.
Sub-heading: When to Contact Support
You've already paid for TurboTax Premium and want to downgrade or request a partial refund.
You can't find the "Switch Products" or "Clear & Start Over" options in your online account.
You're having trouble managing your TurboTax Advantage subscription.
You're unsure if your tax situation truly requires the Premium features after attempting to downgrade.
You encounter any error messages or unexpected behavior while trying to adjust your product.
Sub-heading: How to Reach TurboTax Support
Visit the TurboTax Support Website: Go to
ttlc.intuit.com. This is their primary support portal.Search for Your Issue: Use the search bar to look for "downgrade product," "cancel subscription," or "contact support."
Find Contact Options: TurboTax typically offers a few ways to get help:
Community Forums: You can post your question and get answers from other users or TurboTax experts.
Live Chat: Often available during peak tax season, this allows you to chat with a support agent in real-time.
Phone Support: Look for a phone number. They usually provide specific hours of operation. As of my last update, a common number is 1-800-4INTUIT (1-800-446-8848). Be prepared for potential wait times, especially during busy periods.
Have Your Information Ready: When contacting support, be prepared to provide:
Your Intuit User ID and password.
The tax year you're working on.
Details of your purchase or subscription.
A clear explanation of what you're trying to achieve (e.g., "I want to downgrade from Premium to Deluxe" or "I want to cancel my Advantage subscription").
Step 5: Verify the Change
After following any of the steps above, it's crucial to verify that the change has been successfully implemented.
Sub-heading: For Online Product Downgrade
Log back into your TurboTax account.
Navigate to your tax return.
Confirm that the product displayed is the one you intended to switch to (e.g., TurboTax Deluxe instead of Premium).
If you "Cleared & Started Over," ensure you're starting with the correct, lower-tier product.
Sub-heading: For Advantage Subscription Cancellation
Log back into your Intuit Account or TurboTax Advantage account.
Check your subscription status to confirm that it's cancelled or that the auto-renewal is turned off.
Look for a confirmation email from TurboTax or Intuit regarding the cancellation or change. Keep this email for your records.
By following these detailed steps, you should be able to effectively remove or downgrade your TurboTax Premium service, ensuring you only pay for the features you truly need for your tax situation.
10 Related FAQ Questions:
How to know if I need TurboTax Premium?
You likely need TurboTax Premium if you have income from self-employment (freelancing, gig work), rental properties, or extensive investment activity (stocks, crypto, bonds, ESPPs). If your taxes are simpler (W-2 income, standard deductions, basic credits), a lower-tier product might suffice.
How to downgrade TurboTax from Live to Self-Guided?
If you've opted for TurboTax Live (which includes expert assistance) and want to switch to a self-guided version, look for the "Switch Products" option in the left-hand menu of your TurboTax Online account. You should see an option to downgrade. If you've already interacted with an expert, you might need to clear and start over or contact support.
How to get a refund for TurboTax Premium?
Refunds for TurboTax Premium are typically subject to their refund policy. If you haven't filed or paid yet, you might be able to downgrade directly. If you've paid or received a product through Advantage, you'll generally need to fill out an online refund request form within a specified number of days after purchase or receipt (often 60 days).
How to clear and start over in TurboTax Online?
To clear and start over in TurboTax Online, log in to your account, open your return, click on "Tax Tools" in the left-hand menu, and then select "Clear & Start Over." Be aware that this will erase all your entered data.
How to cancel TurboTax Advantage subscription?
To cancel your TurboTax Advantage subscription, sign in to your Intuit Account, navigate to the "Products" or "Membership" section, and look for an option to "Cancel Membership" or "Remove Product." Ensure you do this before the auto-renewal deadline.
How to switch TurboTax products after starting?
You can often switch TurboTax products after starting by logging into your account, opening your return, and using the "Switch Products" option found under "Tax Tools" in the left-hand menu. This allows you to upgrade or downgrade.
How to prevent TurboTax from auto-renewing?
To prevent TurboTax from auto-renewing, you need to manage your TurboTax Advantage subscription (or any other recurring TurboTax service) through your Intuit account and turn off the automatic renewal feature.
How to contact TurboTax customer service?
You can contact TurboTax customer service by visiting their support website (ttlc.intuit.com) and looking for options like live chat or phone support. Their phone number is often 1-800-4INTUIT (1-800-446-8848).
How to find my TurboTax subscription status?
You can find your TurboTax subscription status by logging into your Intuit Account, which manages all your Intuit products including TurboTax. Look for a section related to "Products," "Subscriptions," or "Membership."
How to determine if my tax situation is simple enough for a free TurboTax version?
Generally, if you only have W-2 income, take the standard deduction, and don't have complex investments, self-employment, or rental income, your tax situation might be simple enough for a free TurboTax version. TurboTax will usually prompt you if your entered data requires an upgrade.