Why is turbo tax making me upgrade to deluxe to enter in a 1099-G form? Also if I only have $157 on that form, does it need filed?

[rjs]

What is the 1099-G for? Is it for unemployment, a state income tax refund, or something else? Which box of the 1099-G is the income in?

The most common types of income on a 1099-G are unemployment in box 1 or a state income tax refund in box 2. Both of those have to be reported on Schedule 1, which is not included in TurboTax Free Edition.

As a general rule you have to report all your income, no matter how little it is. But if the $157 is a state income tax refund in box 2 of the 1099-G, it might not have to be filed. If the state refund is for 2020 (in box 3) and you claimed the standard deduction on your 2020 federal tax return, you do not have to enter the 1099-G. Even if you claimed itemized deductions on your 2020 federal tax return, you do not have to enter the 1099-G if you do not have a deduction for state and local income tax on Schedule A line 5a of your 2020 federal tax return.

[LKnokey]

It is an unemployment form and the total payment was $157 with $16 of tax withheld. I just feel to upgrade which is $40 and to only get $16 back on my return is pointless if I dont need to add it.

[rjs]

You do have to report it. You could see if you qualify to file for free using IRS Free File. You must access it through the IRS web site. TurboTax does not participate in IRS Free File.