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You probably answered something incorrectly in MY INFO.   Go back to MY INFO, click the child’s name  and go through all of the interview questions carefully and slowly.  Read every screen top to bottom.     Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2025 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

When it asked if your dependent paid over half their support---it was not asking if YOU paid over half.  You need to say NO to that question in MY INFO----go back through the questions in MY INFO for your qualifying dependent and make sure you did not say the dependent paid for over half their support.  It is a common mistake made because the question is weird.

No.   There have been only two tax years for which federal stimulus checks were issued.  2020 and 2021.  There is no new federal stimulus check coming to you.   Congress has not passed any new stimulus checks.   There has just been lots of political grandstanding, huffing and puffing.

Go to Federal> Deductions and Credits> Your Home to enter mortgage interest, property taxes, and mortgage insurance that you paid in 2025   You should have a 1098 from your mortgage lender that shows this information.  Lenders send these in January/early February or you may be able to import the 1098 from the lender’s website.   There is not a first time home buyers credit on a Federal return. That ended in 2010. If your state has such as credit, you will be able to enter it when you prepare your state return.   Buying a home is not a guarantee of a big refund.  Your deductions for homeownership combined with your other deductions (if any) must exceed your standard deduction to change your tax due or refund. If you purchased your home late in the year, you do not even have a full year of home ownership deductions.   Your closing costs on your new home are not deductible except for prepaid interest, prepaid property tax or loan origination fees.  There are no deductions for appraisal, inspections, title searches, settlement fees. etc.   Your down payment is not deductible.   Your homeowners insurance for fire, hazard, flood, etc. is not deductible for your own home.   Home improvements, repairs, maintenance, etc. for your own home are not deductible.  (With possible exceptions for certain energy credits) (BUT——do make sure you keep careful written records/invoices, etc.  of any improvements you make to the home for someday when you sell it.)   Homeowners Association  (HOA) fees for your own home are not deductible.     It is very hard for a lot of people to use itemized deductions now that the standard deduction is so much higher.  Your home ownership may not have any effect on your tax due or refund, especially if you purchased the house late in the year.   Standard Deduction Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund.  The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting  tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach.  The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you.    2025 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS SINGLE $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind + $2000) MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind +1600) MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $31,500  (65 or older/legally blind + $1600) HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $23,625 (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)  

You probably answered something incorrectly in MY INFO.   Go back to MY INFO, click the child’s name  and go through all of the interview questions carefully and slowly.  Read every screen top to bottom.     Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2025 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.

HOW CAN I DOWNGRADE TO A LOWER VERSION https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/change-service-level/downgrade-lower-priced-version-turbotax-online/L2IDaMvkt_US_en_US?uid=m6ilzady     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 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.   If you started in the Free Edition and entered any data that required any extra forms or schedules, you have to upgrade to a paid version and if you are watching the screens carefully you are alerted to the upgrade.       TurboTax Online: Important Details about Filing Simple Form 1040 Returns If you have a simple Form 1040 return only (no forms or schedules except as needed to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or student loan interest), you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition, or you can file with TurboTax Live Assisted Basic at the listed price. Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible. Examples of situations included in a simple Form 1040 return (assuming no added tax complexity): W-2 income Interest, dividends or original issue discounts (1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID) that don’t require filing a Schedule B IRS standard deduction Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Child Tax Credit (CTC) Student loan interest deduction Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions   Examples of situations not included in a simple Form 1040 return: Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A, like charitable contributions, medical expenses, mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G Business or 1099-NEC income (often reported by those who are self-employed, gig workers or freelancers) Stock sales (including crypto investments) Income from rental property or property sales Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules  1095A for marketplace health insurance     How can I see my TurboTax  fees?  https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/review-fees-turbotax-online/L1XnIzgzg_US_en_US?uid=m682vq7k   If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons     (BEFORE you e-file) :   Remove Premium Services Remove MAX Defend & Restore Remove a state Remove PLUS Help & Support Remove Pay With Your Refund     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/    

 You will be able to access the 2024 return you started by using the exact same account and user ID that you used when you started it.   But you can no longer use online software for any further changes.       Start a 2025  return online and enter some personal information  so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.   Online tax preparation and e-filing for 2024  returns is now permanently closed.    Now it is too late to use online software or to e-file. If you have any changes/corrections at all to make to your 2024 return, you now have to complete it using desktop software, which you must download to a full PC or Mac  (not to a mobile device).Then you need to print, sign and mail it.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/printers-printing/finish-prior-year-return-started-turbotax-online/L9Oe4M90A_US_en_US?uid=m68tffpe   If you already paid for your online software you can ask customer support for a download of the desktop software.   They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday - Friday   https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number     If you are getting a refund, there is no penalty for filing late.  If you owe tax due, then file and pay the amount due as shown on the Form 1040, but expect a bill later from the IRS for the penalty and interest you will owe.  Only the IRS will calculate this—TurboTax will not calculate it.     When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.   Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.  

You cannot e-file a state return until the IRS accepts your federal return.  The IRS will not begin to accept e-files until January 26.  Be patient and file the state after you receive an email telling you that federal was accepted.

The IRS will begin to accept/reject e-files on January 26.  Before that, they accept --randomly -- only a few returns in very small test batches.   Your step daughter's return must have been taken in a test batch.   

  Delete that 2022 income information.   Online is only for 2025 returns.  Do not try to file that incorrect return.   You cannot change the tax year.   The current online program is for 2025 only.   Only a 2025 return can be prepared online and only a 2025 return can be e-filed.   Online preparation and e-filing for 2022, 2023, and  2024 is permanently closed. Note:  The desktop software you need to prepare the prior year return must be installed/downloaded to a full PC or Mac.  It cannot be used on a mobile device.   To file a return for a prior tax year  If you need to prepare a return for 2022, 2023, or 2024  you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign,  and mail the return(s) https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/ You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sam’s, etc.   Remember to prepare your state return as well—if you live in a state that has a state income tax.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/contact-state-department-revenue/L9qVToi02_US_en_US?uid=m6e06um0   When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.   Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

The IRS will begin to accept/reject 2025 returns on January 26.   Until then, if you e-file your return will just sit on a server waiting for the IRS to open.   Refund advance $ is not issued until the IRS accepts your return.

 You will be able to access the 2024 return you started by using the exact same account and user ID that you used when you started it.   But you can no longer use online software for any further changes.       Start a 2025  return online and enter some personal information  so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.   Online tax preparation and e-filing for 2024  returns is now permanently closed.    Now it is too late to use online software or to e-file. If you have any changes/corrections at all to make to your 2024 return, you now have to complete it using desktop software, which you must download to a full PC or Mac  (not to a mobile device).Then you need to print, sign and mail it.   https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/printers-printing/finish-prior-year-return-started-turbotax-online/L9Oe4M90A_US_en_US?uid=m68tffpe   If you already paid for your online software you can ask customer support for a download of the desktop software.   They are available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time Monday - Friday   https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number     If you are getting a refund, there is no penalty for filing late.  If you owe tax due, then file and pay the amount due as shown on the Form 1040, but expect a bill later from the IRS for the penalty and interest you will owe.  Only the IRS will calculate this—TurboTax will not calculate it.     When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s.  Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.   Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses.  Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.