Free File????

FTWH26 — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:47:14 GMT

I was under the impression that if you didn't make much money throughout the year that it would be free to file. Apparently I was mistaken. I was charged $84.20 to supposedly efile my 2026 return. Didn't happen so once again I'm stuck paying for a service that wasn't provided. Sounds like a class action lawsuit.

Re: Free File????

CatinaT1 — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:42:53 GMT

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

Student Loan Interest (Form 1098-E) is technically an "Adjustment to Income" (an Above-the-Line deduction). While it is a common and simple form, TurboTax's commercial "Free Edition" is restricted to Form 1040 only with no additional schedules.

Even though you are taking the Standard Deduction, Student Loan Interest is reported on Schedule 1. As soon as the software detects a need for Schedule 1 (for student loans, unemployment, or self-employment), it triggers an upgrade to Deluxe.

As long as you haven't done the upgrade, you can go back to the question, "Did you pay student loan interest?", and say no, you will not need Schedule 1. The software won't prompt you to upgrade—but you will lose that deduction.

topic Free File???? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Free File????

Re: Free File????