When TurboTax will refund your money

TurboTax offers refunds in two situations: if you paid for the software but did not file your return, or if you paid for a service tier you did not use. The company does not refund you based on the tax refund your return generates — that money comes from the IRS, not TurboTax. If you filed your return and then want your money back because you changed your mind, TurboTax will not refund the software fee.

The window to request a refund is narrow. You have 60 days from the date you purchased the product to ask for your money back. After 60 days, TurboTax considers the transaction final. If you bought the software on January 15, you must request a refund by March 15 to be within the window.

Refunds are processed to your original payment method — the card or account you used to buy the software. The refund itself usually appears within 3 to 5 business days after TurboTax approves your request, though your bank may take an additional 1 to 2 business days to post it to your account.

Key Takeaways

  • You can request a refund within 60 days of purchase if you did not file your return or paid for a service tier you did not use.
  • TurboTax does not refund the software fee after you have filed your return, even if you change your mind about using the product.
  • Refunds go back to the card or account you used to purchase, and take 3 to 5 business days to process plus 1 to 2 more days for your bank to show the credit.
  • If you are past 60 days, contact TurboTax support to explain your situation — some refunds happen outside the standard window if there was an error on TurboTax's part.

How to request a refund before you file

If you have not filed your return yet, log into your TurboTax account and look for a refund or cancellation option in your account settings. The exact location varies by product — TurboTax Free, Deluxe, Premier, and Self-Employed each have slightly different interfaces — but the option is usually under "Account" or "Settings" near the top of the page.

If you cannot find the refund option in your account, contact TurboTax support directly. You can reach them by phone, chat, or email. Phone support is fastest if you are within the 60-day window and have your purchase confirmation handy. Tell the representative you want to cancel your purchase and request a refund. They will verify your purchase date and process the refund on the spot if you are within the window.

Keep your purchase confirmation email. It shows the exact date you bought the software, which determines whether you are still within the 60-day window. If TurboTax denies your refund request, you can reference this email to dispute the decision.

Refunds after you have filed your return

Once you have filed your return with TurboTax, the company treats the transaction as complete and will not refund the software fee under normal circumstances. This is true even if you file and then when ready decide you want your money back. The 60-day window applies to unfiled returns only.

There is one exception: if TurboTax made an error — for example, if you were charged twice for the same product, or if the software malfunctioned and prevented you from filing correctly — contact support and describe what happened. TurboTax may refund you as a one-time courtesy or credit your account for a future year. These refunds are not may provide and depend on the specific situation.

If you filed your return and later discover you used the wrong product tier — for example, you bought Premier when you only needed Deluxe — you cannot get a refund for the difference. TurboTax does not offer partial refunds based on product tier after filing.

What happens to your tax return if you get a refund

Requesting a refund of the software fee does not affect your filed tax return. If you have already submitted your return to the IRS, it stays filed. The refund only cancels your payment to TurboTax, not your tax filing.

If you request a refund before filing, your return is cancelled and you will need to file again using a different method or repurchase TurboTax. Make sure you have a copy of your return information saved before you cancel, because TurboTax may delete your draft when you request the refund.

Disputing a denied refund request

If TurboTax denies your refund request and you believe you are within the 60-day window, ask to speak with a supervisor or escalate your case. Provide your purchase confirmation email as proof of the purchase date. If the representative made an error in calculating the 60 days, a supervisor can override the decision.

If TurboTax still refuses and you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer. Contact your bank or credit card company and explain that you requested a refund from TurboTax within 60 days and were denied. Your card issuer can investigate and may reverse the charge on your behalf. This process is called a chargeback and usually takes 30 to 60 days.

If you paid by debit card or bank transfer, the dispute process is similar but may take longer. Contact your bank and ask about their dispute procedure for merchant charges. You will need to provide your purchase confirmation and documentation of your refund request to TurboTax.

Refunds for TurboTax Live and assisted services

If you purchased TurboTax Live — the service where a CPA or tax professional prepares your return for you — the refund rules are different. You can cancel TurboTax Live before your appointment with a tax professional and receive a full refund. Once your appointment has started or been completed, TurboTax will not refund the service fee.

If you purchased an add-on service like audit defense or state return preparation and did not use it, you may be able to get that portion refunded separately. Contact TurboTax support and specify which add-on service you want to cancel. The refund window is still 60 days from purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I filed my return but made a mistake?

TurboTax will not refund the software fee because you filed. If you made a mistake on your return, you need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) with the IRS, not request a refund from TurboTax. You can file the amended return using TurboTax again or another method at no additional cost to correct errors.

What if I bought TurboTax but used a different tax software instead?

If you are within 60 days of purchase and have not filed with TurboTax, you can request a refund. Contact TurboTax support with your purchase confirmation and explain that you did not file. They will process the refund to your original payment method.

How long does a TurboTax refund take to show up in my bank account?

TurboTax processes refunds within 3 to 5 business days of approval. Your bank then takes 1 to 2 additional business days to post the credit. In total, expect 4 to 7 business days from the date you request the refund. Weekends and holidays may extend this timeline.

Can I get a refund if I am past the 60-day window?

Standard refunds end at 60 days, but contact TurboTax support anyway if you believe there was an error on their part — such as a duplicate charge or a software malfunction. They may make an exception. If they refuse, you can dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company.

Do I lose my filed return if I request a refund?

No. If you have already filed your return with the IRS, it remains filed even if you get a refund of the TurboTax software fee. The refund only cancels your payment to TurboTax, not your tax filing. If you request a refund before filing, your draft return may be deleted.