mesquitebean's solution 2 messages up from this post is what ended up working for me.
I was confused for a while because there are actually 2 turbotax "free" online programs:
1. "TurboTax IRS Free File Program"
(reached from the https://freefile.intuit.com/ site. Offered through IRS free file program, and it has all the bells and whistles, but an income cap for eligibility.)
2."TurboTax Free Edition"
(reached from the regular Intuit sales page. Only for very simple returns, but no income cap.)
Half of the solutions in this thread work for one and half for the other. This one worked to get out of the "TurboTax IRS Free File Program".
