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There may be several reasons that have increased the TurboTax fees.  Adding a state return can add costs.  You may have included additional services  "Max Benefits" (audit protection/identity theft restoration),  PLUS Help & Support, or  Opted to pay your fees out of your refund (which adds a processing fee). You may have signed up for a version that includes live, on-screen advice from a CPA or Enrolled Agent. Your return may need additional complex forms.  To view the fees you were charged: Log in to Turbotax Select File from the left sidebar Continue through the interview to  Review Your Order.

 The 1099-Q is  only an informational document. The numbers on it are not required to be entered onto your (or your student's) tax return. The interview is complicated (and currently broken) and it's easy to make mistakes. Avoid it if you can and you probably can.  You can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses, including room & board (even if he lives at home) to cover the distribution. When the box 1 amount on form 1099-Q is fully covered by expenses, TurboTax will enter nothing about the 1099-Q on the actual tax forms. But, it will prepare a 1099-Q worksheet for your records (you don’t need it). You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. You also cannot count expenses that were paid by tax free scholarships. References: On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution."  IRS Pub 970 states: “Generally, distributions are tax free if they aren't more than the beneficiary's AQEE for the year. Don't report tax-free distributions (including qualifying rollovers) on your tax return”. "IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education states: If the entire 1099-Q went to qualified expenses, room and board, tuition, etc; then, you do not need to enter the form."  ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Qualified Tuition Plans  (QTP 529 Plans) Distributions General Discussion It’s complicated. For 529 plans, there is an “owner” (usually the parent), and a “beneficiary” (usually the student dependent). The "recipient" of the distribution can be either the owner or the beneficiary depending on who the money was sent to. When the money goes directly from the Qualified Tuition Plan (QTP) to the school, the student is the "recipient". The distribution will be reported on IRS form 1099-Q.  The 1099-Q gets reported on the recipient's return.** The recipient's name & SS# will be on the 1099-Q. Even though the 1099-Q is going on the student's return, the 1098-T should go on the parent's return, so you can claim the education credit. You can do this because he is your dependent. You can and usually should claim the tuition credit before claiming the 529 plan earnings exclusion (unless your income is too high).  The American Opportunity Credit (AOC or AOTC) is 100% of the first $2000 of tuition and 25% of the next $2000 ($2500 maximum credit). The educational expenses he claims for the 1099-Q should be reduced by the amount of educational expenses you claim for the credit. Room and board (R&B) are also qualified expenses for the 529 distribution, but not the AOC (R&B are also not qualified expenses for a scholarship to be tax free). But be aware, you can not double dip. You cannot count the same tuition money, for the tuition credit,  that gets him an exclusion from the taxability of the earnings (interest) on the 529 plan. Since the credit is more generous; use as much of the tuition as is needed for the credit and the rest for the interest exclusion. Another special rule allows you to claim the tuition credit regardless of whose money was used to pay the tuition. In addition, there is another rule that says the 10% penalty is waived if he was unable to cover the 529 plan withdrawal with educational expenses either because he got scholarships or the expenses were used (by him or the parents) to claim the credits. He'll have to pay tax on the earnings, at his lower tax rate (subject to the “kiddie tax”), but not the penalty.   Total qualified expenses (including room & board) less amounts paid by scholarship less amounts used to claim the Tuition credit equals the amount you can use to claim the earnings exclusion on the 1099-Q.  Example:   $10,000 in educational expenses (including room & board)    -$3000 paid by tax free scholarship***    -$4000 used to claim the American Opportunity credit  =$3000 Can be used against the 1099-Q (on the recipient’s return)   Box 1 of the 1099-Q is $5000 Box 2 is $2800 3000/5000=60% of the distribution is qualified, so 40% of the earnings are taxable 40% x 2800= $1120 There is  $1120 of taxable income (on the recipient’s return)   **Alternatively; you can just not report the 1099-Q, at all, if your student-beneficiary has sufficient educational expenses, including room & board (even if he lives at home) to cover the distribution. You would still have to do the math to see if there were enough expenses left over for you to claim the tuition credit. Again, you cannot double dip!  When the box 1 amount on form 1099-Q is fully covered by expenses, TurboTax will enter nothing about the 1099-Q on the actual tax forms. But, it will prepare a 1099-Q worksheet for your records, in case of an IRS inquiry. On form 1099-Q, instructions to the recipient reads: "Nontaxable distributions from CESAs and QTPs are not required to be reported on your income tax return. You must determine the taxability of any distribution."  ***Another alternative is have the student report some of his scholarship as taxable income, to free up some expenses for the 1099-Q and/or tuition credit. Most people come out better having the scholarship taxable before the 529 earnings. A student, with no other income, can have up to $15,750 of taxable scholarship (in 2025) and still pay no income tax. 

We can't make phone calls from this forum. However, you can establish a video conference with a representative. There's an additional charge.  You can establish a video call by subscribing to TurboTax Live or Full Service.  In these sessions, you can see  the TurboTax representative, but they can't see you.  In addition, the representative can see your tax return. You will do the navigation, and You will make any changes to the return. How to Connect Sign in to TurboTax  Select ‌ Live Help or Help Choose  Contact Us or  Connect with live help. Follow the prompts to select your preferred method, which may include One-way video,  Phone call Or live chat. Or reach out at What's the TurboTax phone number?  

To file taxes, your enter both forms on your tax return.   For the W-2:   In TurboTax Online, open your return Click on Search (magnifying glass icon) at the top right of your screen In the Search box, enter form W-2 and click on the magnifying glass icon In the search result box, click on Jump to form W-2 TurboTax will take you directly to the section where you can start entering your form W-2.   For form SSA-1099:   In TurboTax Online, open your return Click on Search (magnifying glass icon) at the top right of your screen In the Search box, enter form SSA-1099 and click Enter In the search result box, click on Jump to form SSA-1099 TurboTax will take you directly to the section where you can start entering your form SSA-1099.

Usually, the amount of overtime paid to you in the full year is shown on your last payslip of 2025.   If your overtime is time and a half, then you divide the total overtime pay by 3 to obtain the overtime premium.

IMO, TaxAct is the superior program.  Turbotax is over-hyped.  I use both programs to cross check each other since they ask for information in different ways.     You can import 1099B info into TaxAct via a CSV file for example.   I can finish my taxes with TaxAct faster than going through Turbotax.   TaxAct also allows for e-filing preparer's pdf notes, something I asked for in Turbotax to no avail!   TaxAct 2025 desktop also still runs on Windows 10.    

This forum has CDA's, Attorneys, Enrolled Agents and other tax professionals.  We are here from 5 AM - 9 PM Pacific time.   We can't make phone calls from this forum. However, you can establish a video conference with a representative. There's an additional charge.  You can establish a video call by subscribing to TurboTax Live or Full Service.  In these sessions, you can see  the TurboTax representative, but they can't see you.  In addition, the representative can see your tax return. You will do the navigation, and You will make any changes to the return. How to Connect Sign in to TurboTax  Select ‌ Live Help or Help Choose  Contact Us or  Connect with live help. Follow the prompts to select your preferred method, which may include One-way video,  Phone call Or live chat. Or reach out at What's the TurboTax phone number?  

There is no hardship exception to paying your taxes, but you can request an installment plan.  When you get to the file section of TT, you will be given the option to include a request, to the IRS, for an installment plan. You don't have to pay until the IRS processes you request (the request is another IRS form that is filed with your return)

If you are married, you can file jointly with your spouse, even if you don't have her 2024 tax return.   On your 2025 tax return, you report both of your incomes.   In almost all situations, it is more beneficial to file Married Filing Jointly than Married Filing Separately.   Please read this TurboTax Help topic for more information.      

You answered correctly to the 2 questions.   However, if the distribution reported on form 1099-Q is fully justified by qualified education expenses (including room and board), you do not need to to enter form 1099-Q on your tax return. Just keep that form in your tax records along with proof of education expenses.   In your case, you can safely delete that form 1099-Q from your tax return.   Please read this TurboTax article for more information.

That box only gets checked if the dependent is 19 to 23 years old. TT will only present you that question based on the birthdate you enter.   There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student status, a relationship test and residence test. A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if: He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year