I bought it on Amazon for closer to $50 in January because I like to have the program on my computer. Finally did my taxes this month. This is the first year TT make me set up an account. Usually I just had to upload last year's file and get started.
The only upsell I have seen is at the tail end where they ask you if you want a manual review by a "tax professional" and some sort of audit protection. I have always declined that. It was just at the tail end prior to submittal and I never cared.
I have heard the online version is free. Does that try to upset you or play ads during the process?
The online version is free until you try to file. You need to pay them before it'll e-file. I've never tried to get it to spit out a printed 1040 that I could mail in without paying, but that *might* be possible. I also didn't think about fees going up as the 15th approches, but that makes sense.
Finally, on closer examination, I may have accidently opted into "Live help" and audit protection. It looks like I could have gotten away with $129 if I had clicked the right radio button. It defaults to the mid priced plan, and I thought I had clicked cheaper, but it looks like not. That $90 is on me, I guess. Live and learn (to click carefully).
