Do I now have to pay to file my tax or am I able to still use the free version like I have been for the past three years?

[HelenC12]

If you're currently using the Free version but it's charging you a fee, you may have entered a transaction that does not qualify for TurboTax Free file or you added some benefits.

You may be eligible for the IRS Free File Program.

• The IRS Free File Program delivered by TurboTax is geared towards lower-income filers, regardless of tax return complexity, and is only offered through the IRS Free File Alliance (FFA) program. No upgrades are available.

TurboTax Free Edition, on the other hand, can be used by higher-income filers but only handles simple returns with no additional schedules.  Upgrades and add-ons, such as TurboTax PLUS and Audit Defense, are available.

Simple tax situations covered in TurboTax Free Edition:

• W-2 income,
• Unemployment income. If your taxable income (including your unemployment income plus any other sources of income) exceeds the filing thresholds for federal (and most states') returns, at least some of your unemployment income can be taxed. 
• Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV
• Claiming the standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)
• Child tax credits. To qualify for the Child Tax Credit, your child must fit all of the requirements. Click here for the requirements. 

Situations not covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:

• Itemized deductions
• Business or 1099-MISC income
• Stock sales
• Rental property income
• Credits, deductions, and income reported on schedules 1–3, such as the Student Loan Interest Deduction

[xmasbaby0]

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.https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez   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.   The Free Edition cannot be used for self-employment income, investment income, rental income or a student loan interest deduction,

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2586254-how-do-i-clear-and-start-overIf you qualify to use it, there is another full-featured free version of the software:

Try Free File: 

You qualify if your income was $39,000 or less, or $72,000 or less if active duty military, or if you qualify for Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

• https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program

Note:  If you do not qualify to use Free File then you will have to upgrade to Deluxe or higher in the paid versions of the software.   

 Online Deluxe $40  State software $40

Or—-Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons:

• Remove Premium Services
• Remove MAX Defend & Restore
• Remove a state
• Remove PLUS Help & Support
• Remove Pay With Your Refund