Does Turbotax Deluxe no longer include basic Schedule C expenses? My situation is the same as prior years and I used Deluxe, but I'm being told to upgrade to Self-Emp'd.

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
February 16, 2022
3 replies
0 views

I'm not breaking down my expenses (except under misc.). Under the various categories provided by Turbotax (communications, advertising, etc.) I just include a single figure. I've always done it this way and never been told I need to upgrade.

TurboTax Deluxe Online

xmasbaby0

Level 15

Deluxe in desktop software can prepare a Schedule C. But you are using online ---so no, Deluxe will not prepare a Schedule C. When you use online software you need Self-Employed if you need a Schedule C.

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carsons97487

Level 2

I bought the desktop version of TurboTax deluxe as I have always and got to the end with no schedule C questions. You CANNOT complete a schedule C form and had to upgrade to Home and business for $120 after paying for the Deluxe version. I am not amused!

DawnC

Level 15

@carsons97487I am using the desktop Turbotax Deluxe and I had to go to Forms in the toolbar and then selected Schedule C for the questions. Hope this helps.

In the desktop version of TurboTax Deluxe, you can get to Schedule C from Forms mode or you can use Step by Step mode. You can enter both business income and expenses in the desktop version, but not Online. Online will prompt for an upgrade once you attempt to enter expenses. Home Office expenses for the self-employed are entered with the Schedule C information.

In the Desktop program, click on Federal Taxes, then Wages and Income, then scroll down to Business Items and click Start next to Business Income and Expenses (Sch C).

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VolvoGirl

Level 15

Some reasons........You either used the Desktop Deluxe. Or don't remember upgrading to Online Self Employed version. Or didn't use the expenses (check Schedule C).

Or you used the IRS Free File website. That includes Schedule C.

Yamana1249Author

Level 2

Thanks! These are all good reasons, but I double checked and none of them apply to me. I still can't figure out why I was able to use Deluxe last year!

tmunoz

Level 13

In general, with TurboTax Deluxe Online you should be able to report income on a Schedule C but if you need to report expenses TurboTax Self-Employed is required. VolvoGirl is correct about the exceptions above. Without seeing the return, I cannot say why it may have let you report expenses in that version last year.

Please see this TurboTax Online Product Guide which states:

TurboTax Deluxe includes the 1040 form with itemized deductions (Schedules 1–6, Schedule A and Schedule C income), along with everything in Free Edition and PLUS.

and
TurboTax Self-Employed handles income and expenses from self-employment (Schedule C) and farms (Schedule F), along with all forms and schedules in Premier.

TurboTax Online Product Guide 2021

Vengeance-Viking

Level 2

I was shocked as well to find the few simple questions and worksheet page that used to be in Deluxe were removed this year. BUT, if you change your View setting to Forms, the Schedule C is still there - you just need to enter everything "old-school" into the form fields yourself. I compared my 2025 expenses to my 2024 Schedule C form and was able to figure out where which expenses go. Its actually pretty straight forward and only took me a few more minutes. Not happy they removed the simple page and questions but at least I got it to work. Good Luck