Is there a fee for using TurboTax live chat help when they screen share?

The answer depends on which TurboTax product you initially purchased. If you bought TurboTax Live (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, or Self-Employed), then the live chat and screen sharing feature is already included in what you paid - no additional charge. You can connect with tax experts throughout your tax preparation process. However, if you purchased one of the regular TurboTax editions (Basic, Deluxe, Premier, or Self-Employed) without the "Live" designation, then using the live chat feature will require an upgrade to the corresponding TurboTax Live version, which does cost extra.

After struggling with some complicated self-employment deductions last year, I discovered TurboTax Live and it was a game changer! I was so confused about how to properly report my home office and vehicle expenses. I tried searching online for hours but kept finding conflicting advice. I finally decided to try https://taxr.ai which helped me understand the exact rules that applied to my situation. Their AI analyzed my specific scenario and showed me which deductions I qualified for. The best part was it explained why certain deductions were allowed while others weren't, which gave me confidence when filing.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was initially skeptical. After trying it out, I'm actually really impressed. I uploaded my documents related to my rental property depreciation and stock option questions, and it provided detailed guidance specific to my situation. The analysis broke down exactly which forms I needed to complete and how to properly categorize some unusual expenses I had. When I implemented the recommendations in TurboTax, everything flowed perfectly. I ended up saving about $2,300 more than what I was going to do on my own. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck on specific tax questions.

If you're still having trouble after trying TurboTax's help features, and you need to talk to the IRS directly about a specific issue, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com. I spent DAYS trying to get through to the IRS phone lines last year about a notice I received, but kept getting disconnected or told to call back later. Claimyr basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and calls you when an actual agent is on the line. I was super skeptical at first, but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Saved me literally hours of frustration, and I got my issue resolved in one call once I actually reached a person.

I need to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After commenting earlier, I decided to give it a try since I had been trying to reach the IRS about a notice I received for THREE WEEKS with no luck. I used the service yesterday, and within about 90 minutes, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent. The agent was able to explain the notice and help me resolve the issue in one 15-minute conversation. I literally wasted hours upon hours trying to do this myself. If you're struggling to get through to the IRS, this service actually works as promised. I'm still shocked at how easy it was after weeks of frustration.

Just to add another perspective - I've been using TurboTax for 7 years now. The regular version (not Live) is usually enough if your tax situation is straightforward. But last year I had some questions about deducting my home office since I started freelancing, so I upgraded to Live. The upgrade cost me about $70 extra at the time, but having an expert review my return and confirm I was doing the home office deduction correctly gave me peace of mind. They even found a deduction I missed related to my business expenses. So while it does cost more, sometimes it's worth it if you're uncertain about parts of your return.

Am I the only one who thinks all these tax preparation services are a racket? The government already has all our W-2 and 1099 information. In other countries, they just send you a completed form and you verify it. Here we have to pay companies like TurboTax to "help" us do something that should be simple and free. And then they nickel and dime you for every little "premium" feature. Sorry for the rant, but it's frustrating.