I have the simplest of taxes, only 1 w2 , and only made 12,600 . Why do I have to pay to file my taxes

-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/

You don't.  Go to TurboTax.com and don't ask for audit defense or anything else and you can file complete and file your taxes for free.  I just helped my daughter do it last week.  A friend had the same comment to me and when he went back to the start he had to make sure he clicked the right boxes (I think it is audit defense or something like that) and boom, it was free.  

www.turbotax.com

click "I have a job (w-2)"

Pick "do your own taxes" at the bottom of the screen.  

They only charge for simple returns if you click "Assisted".