Using Free version for a full time student who worked 2 part time jobs last summer. One W-2 and one 1099-misc (no deductions). Can't I use Free version? How?

[mmm80525]

Once I try to enter the 1099-misc it says I have to upgrade to paid version. This is a super simple return, don't need all the self-employed questions.

[MayaD]

The Free version is intended for taxpayers with very simple returns (W2 income) that can fit on the new 1040 form without any schedules.The Free Edition does not support form 1099-MISC. 

[xmasbaby0]

Try Free File:

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY?  I WANT THE FREE EDITION

The information that you can enter in Free Edition is pretty limited now.  Thanks to the new tax laws that began for 2018 returns, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's.  Everything goes on a Form 1040 that has three extra "schedules" with it, and if you need any of those schedules, you are not able to use the Free Edition.  Using the standard deduction instead of itemizing does NOT mean you will not need any of those schedules.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040 

If you qualify to use it, there is another full-featured free version of the software:

Try Free File: 

You qualify if your income was $36,000 or less, or $69,000 or less if active duty military, or if you qualify for Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

• https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program

If you switch to Free File you must create a new account and new user ID.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez

[mmm80525]

Bummer. This is about as simple a return as there is. She doesn't have any deductions or expenses with this income. She helped coach a club team over the summer. But they did a 1099-misc.

Ideas on other products that can do it. The cost of upgrading is nearly the cost of the refund.

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

There are 2 free ones.  Did you look at the other free one?  Did she make more than 36,000?

There are 2 different Free versions.  Turbo Tax Free Edition and the IRS Free File website.  If you don't qualify for the Free Edition  you might qualify for the Free File website.

There is also The Turbo Tax Free File program which is free for federal and state.  And has more forms than the Federal Free Edition, like Schedules A, B, C , D, E, F, EIC, H, K-1, SE,  etc.

To qualify for the Free File website  you just need to meet one of these 3 things.

AGI $36,000 or less.

Active duty military with AGI of $69,000 or less

OR qualify for EIC (earned income credit.)

In order to use the Free File program, you have to start it at a special website.  Click on the Orange button I Qualify, Let's get Started

https://freefile.intuit.com/

How to switch to the Free File website

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/01/...

[mmm80525]

Thanks. That's a lot of information. She only made $3000 between the two jobs. I didn't know about the other Intuit Free Edition.

[VolvoGirl]

The first answer posted above did tell you about it.

[mmm80525]

Seems to be working. Thank you.