topic Won’t let me select free version in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Won’t let me select free version

Ilovejzs — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 13:42:24 GMT

This is the last year I’ll be using TurboTax. Despite not needing it TurboTax would only let me select deluxe and charged me 40.00. I have no deductions that would require the deluxe. Anyone else have that problem?

Re: Won’t let me select free version

ReginaM — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:15:46 GMT

The information that you can enter in Free Edition is pretty limited now. Thanks to the new tax laws, there are no more simple Form 1040EZ or 1040A's. Everything goes on a little Form 1040 that has six extra schedules with it, and if you need any of those schedules, you are not able to use the Free Edition.

Before switching to the IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, it’s important to make sure you’re eligible for the product. If you answer yes to any of these question, you qualify:

Is your adjusted gross income (AGI) $36,000 or less?
Were you active duty military in 2019 with an AGI of $69,000 or less?
Do you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)?

To switch to IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax:

Sign out of your existing TurboTax account.
Go to the IRS Free File delivered by TurboTax website and sign in to your same account from there.
Select Yes, switch to IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax when asked, and Continue.

Re: Won’t let me select free version

Ilovejzs — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 18:41:32 GMT

I’m using tax act next year

Re: Won’t let me select free version

coco9 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 20:47:40 GMT

I am unable to use the free irs choice. I go to the site (yes i definitely qualify) and click the i qualify link and sign in. I click the switch over to free etc and it still charges be $120! I have even restarted the entire tax process from scratch and it isn't working. It seems like this is done on purpose to dissuade qualified tax payers from getting their promised benefit.

Re: Won’t let me select free version

KatrinaLO — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 21:13:52 GMT

To see what you are being charged for please follow the instructions in the following FAQ. https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/charges-and-fees/help/how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online/00/26353

If you have not yet filed your tax return, then proceed to follow the directions in the FAQ below to remove all unwanted add-ons.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/charges-and-fees/help/what-can-i-do-to-reduce-my-fees/00/26051

Please see the FAQ below for more information on downgrading your current version of TurboTax. https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/can-i-downgrade-to-a-lower-priced-version-of-turbotax-online/00/25591

Re: Won’t let me select free version

jmeteigner — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 02:44:36 GMT

lol yeah they've "elected" to not participate in IRS Free File anymore, just going full scam now. ya'll are the worst.

Re: Won’t let me select free version

Solos82 — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 22:58:33 GMT

Indeed they have. Made it very difficult to find that information as well.

Re: Won’t let me select free version

DoninGA — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 23:00:56 GMT

@Solos82 wrote:

Indeed they have. Made it very difficult to find that information as well.

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

Re: Won’t let me select free version

tonkytonk — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 22:28:04 GMT

I'm having the same problem and I can't get passed it to file without paying for what should be free.

Re: Won’t let me select free version

DoninGA — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 22:29:22 GMT

@tonkytonk wrote:

I'm having the same problem and I can't get passed it to file without paying for what should be free.

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 2023 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

Re: Won’t let me select free version

Not4 — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:41:03 GMT

As of 15 April 2024:
"Since Intuit has exited the IRS Free File program, we no longer offer IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax, formerly known as TurboTax Free File Program and TurboTax Freedom Edition."

Re: Won’t let me select free version

KilaAdriannn — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:54:00 GMT

I had the same problem, I needed no Help with my taxes this year and was forced to get the live assisted version. Not once did I click the live assistant button, I did both federal and state taxes on my own, and was then forced to pay 40 dollars each on top of a 40 dollar payment processing fee, so I paid 120 dollars total to do my own taxes which is ridiculous!!!

Re: Won’t let me select free version

farriergirl1 — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:56:07 GMT

Yea that did not work. A bunch of shady crooks

Re: Won’t let me select free version

Fig1998 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:42:39 GMT

Yes a customer service rep helped me get the FREE VERSION go to forms and delete 1040 off your profile. Not sure how exactly he did it but he signed in remotely to my tax return while I was on my account on my phone and went to forms and had me delete it and then it gave me the free option back. 🙂

Re: Won’t let me select free version

Fig1998 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:43:20 GMT

Read my comment it worked

Re: Won’t let me select free version

irishbymarriage — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:36:48 GMT

BUT DID IT ERASE ALL YOUR INFORMATION AND MAKE YOU START EVERYTHING OVER AGAIN?

Re: Won’t let me select free version

MonikaK1 — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 23:56:16 GMT

If you use an Online version of TurboTax, you have the option to start your return without paying for it (even if a paid edition). As long as the product is not paid for or registered, you have the option to clear the return and start over.

TurboTax Online saves your progress as you go. TurboTax Desktop asks you if you want to save your file before you exit a session.

See this article for help finding a missing tax file in TurboTax Desktop.

If you open TurboTax Online and don't see the information you entered, check to see if it's possible that you are logging in with a different User ID and therefore, you are not finding the tax return that you started. Usually, this is the case if you log in a do not find your already started or complete tax returns and instead are being asked to start from the beginning.

To get a list of your User ID's and recover accounts, you can use the tool at this link. If you have more than one email address, you can run the tool on each one.

@irishbymarriage