UPDATE 12-15-2008: Intuit has rescinded this extra fee which we have written about here.

Users of the popular Intuit tax preparation software Turbotax may be in for a surprise when they go to print their second (and subsequent) tax return this year.

The fine print contained on the Amazon web site discloses that for the first time ever, you’ll have to pay $9.95 for each additional tax return file (beyond the one primary return included with the software).

The change is also spelled out in the official license agreement which can be reviewed on Intuit’s web site.

This means that if you’re filing returns for family and friends that you’ll need to pony up the extra fee before you’re able to convert your prior year’s data.

According to comments left on the Amazon user review forum (over 100 negative reviews and growing), in prior years the software limited users to preparing 5 returns (view prior year license information directly on the Intuit site)  without any additional fee.

While this fee may be judged fair by some, it will be interesting to see how many are caught unaware by the additional cost.

Link: WayneSchulz