I purchased turbotax 2021 to file last year's taxes. I cannot efile, but NY requires it. Paper filing is NOT accepted. What do I do?

Sorry personal do it yourself prior year returns can not be efiled.  Don't worry about NY efile.  It's ok to mail it,    You only have to efile if your software allows it and federal was efiled and accepted first.  

@thekristin 

You are not a return  preparer as defied by NYS

.https://www.tax.ny.gov/tp/efile/mandate_participants.htm#preparer

And See NY efile page for individuals....

E-file requirement for individual taxpayers

2nd point says......your software supports the electronic filing of your return.....   which Turbo Tax doesn't support if you didn't efile federal or already used the 5 efiles.  Turbo Tax doesn't support Efiling prior year returns.