topic Why are seniors paying to file taxes in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Why are seniors paying to file taxes

slkfootprints — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:19:46 GMT

Re: Why are seniors paying to file taxes

xmasbaby0 — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 21:47:51 GMT

The fees for using TurboTax are not determined by your age. The fees are determined by the version of the software you use.

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 new 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 of those three 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) :

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/

Or—if you live in certain states you may be eligible to use the new IRS Direct File

In Filing Season 2025, Direct File will be available in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

https://directfile.irs.gov/

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629

Re: Why are seniors paying to file taxes

DoninGA — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 21:49:06 GMT

TurboTax does not have a specific edition for seniors.

The TurboTax Free online edition is for very simple tax returns that do not require any other form or schedule other than the Form 1040. If your tax data requires entry on any other form or schedule then you must upgrade to the Deluxe edition or higher.

If you have not paid for the online edition you are using, have not filed your tax return or registered the Free edition, then you can clear your return and start over with a lower priced edition. Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the program screen while working on the 2024 online tax return. Click on Clear & Start Over.

Go to this TurboTax website for the Free online edition - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp

Please Note -

TurboTax Online: Important Details about Filing Form 1040 Returns with Limited Credits

A Form 1040 return with limited credits is one that's filed using IRS Form 1040 only (with the exception of the specific covered situations described below). Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.

If you have a Form 1040 return and are claiming limited credits only, you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition or TurboTax Live Assisted Basic (if available), or you can file with TurboTax Full Service at the listed price.

Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):

W-2 income
Interest or dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
IRS standard deduction
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
Student loan interest deduction

Situations not covered:

Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A
Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
Business or 1099-NEC income
Stock sales (including crypto investments)
Rental property income
Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules