Filing fees

[Hotrodcheatham]

Why couldn't I file free when my income was under the $1500 requirements? It would not let me continue with the free filing until I selected the $40 file. Was it because our only income was interest dividends? 

[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

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

If 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

[Hotrodcheatham]

Thank you for that detailed information. I did qualify for the free edition but it wouldn't let me continue without choosing deluxe anyway. I had to pay the $40, even though neither of us had any income for 2020 other than the stimulus and $900 in dividend interest. There was no 1040, just 1099s. Maybe it has to do with the software. 

[VolvoGirl]

You don't even need to file a return for that low income.  Did you get the full Stimulus amount?  Or do you qualify for more?  If you haven't filed or paid you can try to go back to Free or use the Free File website.

Something you answered must have triggered Deluxe.

[Hotrodcheatham]

I didn't figure I would need to file, but I put everything on the form just to be sure. It went through, told me to put in my credit card information and charged me the $40 and sent me an email that my taxes would be filed.