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Everyone's tax situation is different and the complexity of your tax situation, meaning the forms needed to file your return, determines if you qualify for the TurboTax Free Edition.   The TurboTax Free Edition is strictly limited to simple Form 1040 returns. If your return requires additional schedules to report specific types of income or to claim certain credits, the system will prompt you to upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe or higher.   Here are the most common reasons you would be required to upgrade to a paid version: Unemployment Income: If you received a 1099-G for unemployment benefits, this is no longer covered under the Free Edition for the 2025 tax year. Itemized Deductions: If you are claiming deductions for mortgage interest, property taxes, or large charitable contributions on Schedule A instead of taking the standard deduction. Investment Income: Reporting stock sales, cryptocurrency transactions, or rental property income. Self-Employment/Gig Work: If you have 1099-NEC or 1099-K income and need to deduct business expenses on Schedule C. Education Credits: Claiming the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit (Form 8863). To see if you have forms that are not included in the free edition: Sign in to your TurboTax Online account. Select Tax Tools from the left menu and then click Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Look for Schedules 1, 2, or 3. If any of these are present (other than for the Student Loan Interest deduction or the EITC/Child Tax Credit), an upgrade is required. If you want to start over to remove an accidental entry:  Select Tax Tools Clear and Start Over This will erase all data entered so far  

1099-DIV box 12 is for reporting tax exempt bond interest.  The full amount is not taxed on a Federal return.  State returns will typically only tax the tax-exempt interest that is earned in states other than your resident state.  If none of this interest was earned in your state, take the following steps:   Go back to the 1099-DIV reporting the interest and click Edit or Revisit Click Continue until you get to the Tell us more about your exempt-interest dividends screen Check the circle for I earned exempt-interest dividends in more than one state In the first box, select your residence state, then enter a 0 for the Exempt-interest dividend amount In the 2nd box, select Multiple States, then enter the total amount of Exempt-interest dividend amount that is in box 12 of the 1099-DIV This screen is only used to exempt any interest form tax in your state of residence according to the laws of your state.  If you can't verify that any of this interest was from bond activity in your home state, it will be fully taxable on your state return.

Take a look at the following TurboTax help article to see the steps to take to show that you are being claimed as a dependent on another return:   How do I indicate that I can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return?  

Maybe.  To qualify for the Parsonage/Housing Allowance and self-employment tax (SECA) status, the IRS has a strict "facts and circumstances" test.  Merely being a music director is usually not enough; you generally must be licensed, commissioned, or ordained.   If you are asking for tax reasons, ask your church leadership: "Does our denomination officially 'commission' or 'license' music directors as clergy?" "Do my duties include leading the spiritual direction of the service?" If the answer to both is "Yes," you should look into IRS Publication 517 (Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers).   If the answer is "No," you are likely a lay employee and should be taxed like any other professional.

The IRS uses your prior year AGI to combat fraud. Make sure you take into account the information below.   You can find your 2024 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) by: Looking at line 11 on page 1 of your 2024 Form 1040 Requesting a transcript of your 2024 tax return from the IRS. You can request your transcript online at the following link: Get Transcript Please click on this TurboTax article for more information.    Check these items as well to ensure you have the correct number.  If you:  Filed late last year after mid-November or your return was processed after that time—try entering 0. Amended your return last year—make sure you’re using the AGI from your original return, not the amended one. (If you only have a 1040X form, it’s on line 1, column A). Rounded your AGI to the nearest dollar—be sure to round up when it’s 50 cents or more and down when it’s 49 cents or less. Filed with your spouse last year—you and your spouse have the same 2024 AGI. (Don’t split the AGI amount or enter  0  for one of you).   Time-saving Tip: If what you entered is correct and you continue to get a reject, you won't be able to e-file. There's probably a data mismatch at the government, or some other situation beyond your control that prevents your return from being e-filed. In this case, your only option would be to print and mail in your return.    This article will give you instruction on how to print and mail your return. 

The information presented on the summary page doesn't always match the entries made under the related topic. Mortgage interest split between a rental and Schedule A is one example. As long as your entries are correct the first time you review the topic, you can ignore the zero on the summary page.   You can check Schedule E by printing/previewing the PDF of your return. Find this under Tax Tools >> Print Center. If you've already filed, see this link: How do I get a PDF of my return?

The IRS/States is currently processing a high volume of e-filed returns, so it can take several days for your payments to go through.  The IRS/States may debit the payment after the deadline. Also, it can take the banks another few days to post the debit to your account. As long as you filed you return or extension on or before April 15, 2026, and you selected April 15, 2026, or earlier as your payment date, you won't get penalized for late payment. If you don't see the debit in your bank account 7–10 days after their return has been accepted,  call the IRS e-file Payment Services at 888-353-4537 or contact your state tax agency.   How do I contact my state Department of Revenue?

Thank you for providing a token. When reviewing your tax return the AGI carried to the Connecticut (CT) return is the same as the federal AGI. That figure is used to calculate the tax on the Tax Calculation Schedule (CT1040TCS) and the tax is accurate. There is an increase to the state tax liability from Table C and Table B (see the link below). CT Tax Calculation Schedules and Tables This provides a refund on the CT tax return after applying your CT withholding from your W-2.    From the left rail menu in TurboTax Online, select Tax Tools (You may have to scroll down on the left rail menu.) Select Tax Tools On the drop-down select Tools On the pop-up menu titled “Tools Center”, select View Tax Summary  On the left sidebar, select Preview my 1040 and Preview my CT For TurboTax Desktop, change to 'Forms' and review the forms    You have access to all forms when you choose to print your return in TurboTax Online/Mobile.  However you are required to pay before printing, but do not have to file until you are ready. Can I print a copy of my return in TurboTax Online before filing? If you are using TurboTax Desktop you can switch to Forms and review all forms and worksheets.   @claudinend [Edited: 04/16/2026 | 8:53 AM PST]

Your date of payment stays valid.  It may take the IRS up to 10 days to debit your account during this time of the tax season.   Call IRS e-file Payment Services 24/7 at 888-353-4537 to inquire about or cancel your payment, but please wait 7 to 10 days after your return was accepted before calling.

If you had excess contributions that you did not withdraw in time, then it is likely that the 5329 was automatically generated by TurboTax.   If you have the desktop product, go look for Forms on the upper right, then the list of forms on your return will appear on the left. You can scroll down to the 5329 and view it.   If you are using the Online product, you can't actually see the form, but you can see the list of forms by going to Tax Tools and the left, then under that Tools, then back in the center Delete a Form. You don't want to actually delete a form, but this will let you see the list of forms on your return.

you should get a notice explaining the discrepancy, but it might not come for more than a week. if it's not an offset, then only the taxiing authorities can explain why. TurboTax gets no updates once your return is accepted.