TurboTax may be charging for several reasons including the type of return you are filing (e.g., needing Deluxe or higher versions), charges for state tax returns, fees for the pay-with-refund option, and additional services like help/support or MAX Defense. If your tax return is not simple (involving forms beyond Form 1040), TurboTax requires upgrading to a paid version which incurs costs. Charges also apply separately for federal and state filings and for extras like deducting fees from your refund. Sometimes fees appear due to selected add-ons or if you choose to pay TurboTax fees through your federal refund rather than upfront. There are ways to reduce or avoid these charges by removing add-ons, deleting state returns, switching to free editions if eligible, or clearing and starting over from scratch.