The Hidden Fees Problem: How FileJoy Eliminates Surprise Charges

You think you're paying $29. You end up paying $200+. Here's how FileJoy fixes this.

The Hidden Fee Trap

Step 1: Attractive "Starting At" Price

• "Free" or "Starting at $0"
• Gets you in the door
• Seems like a great deal

Step 2: Required Upgrades

• "You need Self-Employed version" (+$60)
• "State return required" (+$50)
• "Can't file without this" (+$30)

Step 3: Optional Upsells

• "Add audit protection" (+$40)
• "Get priority support" (+$20)
• "Unlock advanced features" (+$50)

Step 4: The Final Bill

• Started at: $0
• Ended up paying: $200+

Real Examples

TurboTax:

• Advertised: "Free"
• Reality: $119 (Self-Employed) + $50 (State) = $169
• With upsells: $219+

H&R Block:

• Advertised: "Starting at $35"
• Reality: $89.99 (Self-Employed) + $36.99 (State) = $126.98
• With upsells: $176.98+

TaxAct:

• Advertised: "Starting at $24.95"
• Reality: $64.95 (Self-Employed) + $44.95 (State) = $109.90
• With upsells: $159.90+

FileJoy's Transparent Approach

What You See Is What You Pay:

• Base plan: $99/year (clearly shown)
• Additional states: $29/state (clearly shown)
• No hidden fees
• No surprise charges
• No required upgrades

Everything Included:

• All Schedule C features
• All self-employment calculations
• All deduction finders
• Calculation audit
• Receipt storage
• Email support
• No premium tiers

The FileJoy Promise

No Hidden Fees:

• Price shown upfront
• No surprise charges
• No required upgrades
• All features included

Transparent Pricing:

• Clear pricing structure
• Easy to understand
• No fine print
• No gotchas

Fair Value:

• Pay for what you need
• Get everything you need
• No upsells required
• No premium features locked away

Cost Comparison

Scenario: Freelancer, 1 state

TurboTax:

• Advertised: "Free"
• Actual cost: $169
• With upsells: $219

FileJoy:

• Advertised: $99
• Actual cost: $99
• **Savings: $70-$120**

Why This Matters

Budget Planning:

• Know what you'll pay upfront
• No surprise charges
• Can plan your expenses
• No last-minute decisions

Trust:

• Transparent companies are trustworthy
• No bait-and-switch tactics
• Honest about pricing
• Respect for customers

Value:

• Pay fair price for fair value
• No overpaying for features you don't need
• Get everything you need included
• Better overall value

The FileJoy Difference

We believe in honest, transparent pricing. No hidden fees, no surprise charges, no required upgrades. What you see is what you pay, and what you get is everything you need.

Experience transparent pricing—try FileJoy and see the difference honest pricing makes.