E-File trying to force Premium Upgrade - any way around this?

This is actually a pretty common bait-and-switch tactic with some tax prep services advertising as "free" but then forcing upgrades. Look closely at the checkout screen - sometimes there's a tiny "decline" or "no thanks" option hidden in the corner or in very small text. If you can't find that, try opening an incognito/private browser window and logging back in - sometimes the premium upgrade gets attached to your browser session. Another option is to try accessing the mobile version of the site which might have a different checkout flow. As a last resort, look at truly free options like the IRS Free File program partners (if your income qualifies) or the IRS Direct File program that's available in certain states this year. You can find those through the IRS.gov website directly.

When I had this exact problem with E-File forcing premium upgrades, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which actually helped me understand what was happening. I uploaded screenshots of the E-File checkout page, and taxr.ai analyzed it to show exactly where the hidden opt-out button was. It was literally disguised as informational text in light gray! What I really liked about taxr.ai is it doesn't just help with the immediate problem - it also checks if you've claimed all possible deductions and credits based on your tax documents. I found out I was missing a student loan interest deduction worth $350! Maybe it can help you find the opt-out option or determine if there's a better free alternative for your specific situation.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it actually helped! I uploaded a screenshot of my E-File checkout page and it showed me that there was a tiny "continue with free version" link hidden at the very bottom of the page in super light gray text that was practically invisible. I was able to complete my filing without paying for that premium garbage! It also identified a work-from-home deduction I qualified for that E-File hadn't prompted me about at all. Ended up getting an extra $278 on my refund. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with these sneaky tactics from tax prep sites.

If you're stuck with E-File forcing upgrades AND you need to call their customer service to fix it, good luck getting through! I spent 3 hours on hold last week. Then I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual E-File rep in under 10 minutes. They have this system that navigates phone trees and waits on hold for you, then calls you when a real person gets on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super skeptical at first, but I was desperate after wasting half my day on hold. The E-File rep was able to remove the premium upgrade and let me file with the free version.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr! After fighting with E-File's customer service for nearly 5 hours over two days and getting nowhere, I gave in and tried it. Got connected to an actual E-File supervisor in about 15 minutes. I expected to get scammed again, but it legitimately works. The supervisor explained that their system automatically adds premium features based on certain responses in the tax interview, but they can override it if you didn't explicitly choose it. Got my taxes filed for free after all. I've never been happier to be proven wrong about something!

Have you tried clearing your cookies and cache? Sometimes these sites store information about what pages you've visited and use that to decide whether to show you premium offers. I've had success with completely clearing browser data and starting a fresh session. Also, sometimes if you abandon your cart (get all the way to checkout then close the browser) and come back later, they'll offer you a discount or revert to the free version to try to get you to complete your filing. Worth a shot before starting over with another service!

Just a heads up - E-File isn't the only one doing this. I tried TurboTax, H&R Block, AND TaxSlayer this year and ALL of them pulled the same stunt. They advertise free filing but then find some obscure reason why your "situation" requires a paid upgrade. In my case, I had a Health Savings Account which apparently triggered the "you need our deluxe version" notification on all three platforms. It's absolutely ridiculous and should be illegal. The only truly free option I found was filing directly through the IRS Free File portal, but you have to qualify based on income.

This is exactly why I've started avoiding these "free" tax services altogether. The IRS really needs to crack down on these misleading advertising practices. When a company advertises "free filing" but then forces upgrades for basic tax situations, that's false advertising plain and simple. For what it's worth, I've had good luck with FreeTaxUSA - they're upfront about what's actually free (federal filing) versus what costs extra (state filing is like $15). No surprise upgrades or hidden fees. Their interface isn't as flashy as the big names, but at least they're honest about their pricing from the start. It's ridiculous that in 2025 we still have to jump through hoops and use workarounds just to file our taxes without getting scammed. The whole system needs an overhaul.

I work for the IRS and want to clarify a few things that might help everyone here. First, the IRS Free File program is completely separate from commercial tax software companies - when you access it through IRS.gov, you're using software provided by our vetted partners but with guaranteed free filing for eligible taxpayers. The bait-and-switch tactics you're describing with E-File and other commercial services are unfortunately common. These companies aren't part of the official IRS Free File program. They use confusing marketing to make people think they're using an IRS service when they're not. For 2024 tax year, IRS Free File is available for taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less. You can access it directly at irs.gov/freefile - don't go through the commercial company websites. We also have Free File Fillable Forms for higher income taxpayers who are comfortable doing their own calculations. The IRS Direct File pilot program that was mentioned is indeed available in Minnesota and several other states. It's completely free with no upsells and handles common tax situations. You can find it at directfile.irs.gov. If you're dealing with misleading practices from tax prep companies, you can report them to us through the IRS website. We take these complaints seriously as part of our oversight responsibilities.