tells me I have a schedule 3 and can't use the simple returns.

[betspots]

Very frustrated. Keeps telling me i have to upgrade. I have no deductions. what is a schedule C?

[xmasbaby0]

Schedule C is used for your business expenses when you are self-employed.  You cannot use the Free Edition if you have self-employment income.

If you have self-employment income for which you will pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare,  you will need to use online Premium software or any version of the desktop software download so that you can prepare a Schedule C for your business expenses.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/how-do-i-report-income-from-self-employment/00/...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/enter-self-empl...

If you live in a state with a state income tax, you might need to make estimated payments to your state.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/small-business-taxes/the-home-office-deduction/L1RZyYxzv

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/estimated-taxes/make-estimated-tax-payme...

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/self-employed/

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/business-taxes/discussion/self-employed-don-t-miss-these-tax-moves...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/import-export-data-files/enter-schedule-...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/payroll-additions-deductions/qualify-qua...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/self-employment-taxes/self-employed-expe...

[xmasbaby0]

And...here is what Schedule 3 looks like---did you enter anything that goes on this:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040s3.pdf

Sometimes users of the Free Edition get caught by having a small amount of retirement income contributions and are prompted to upgrade to a paid version.  If that is what is going on, you can avoid the retirement saver credit by telling the software in MY INFO that you were a student.  That will disqualify you for that little credit and keep you in Free Edition.

Or—-Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free.  There are 8  free software versions available from the IRS Free File site

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/