@MzQueen74 We cannot see what version of the software you used--it sounds like you upgraded from Free Edition without noticing that you were doing it, although the screens tell you that you are upgrading.
Major tax reform and major changes in the tax forms have also resulted in changes to the tax software.
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, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's. Everything goes on a little “postcard-size” Form 1040 that has six 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 free version of the software:
Try Free File:
You qualify if your income was $34,000 or less, or $66,000 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/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez
Note: If you do not qualify to use Free File then you will have to upgrade to Deluxe or higher in the paid versions of the software.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
