How is it legal to charge for the student loan interest payment even though the IRS free file says TurboTax will do free filing if agi is less than 34k? [profanity} this

[mesquitebean]

sylarsrden
There are 2 free products, and you are in the wrong one.
I've left you info below about the other free product--TurboTax Free File Program--which is the one affiliated with the IRS Free File Alliance.   If you are having a roadblock due to student loan interest, you are in the wrong free product.

[mesquitebean]

TurboTax does have 2 free products, but if you are being charged, you are not in one of them.   The regular Free Edition cannot handle student  loan interest, but the TurboTax Free File Program (IRS affiliated) can.  I'll tell you more about it below.

If you started out in regular Free Edition (which is free for Federal and State),  you may be asked to upgrade to Deluxe due to a situation in your return that Free Edition cannot handle.   

The regular Free Edition is more limited this year due to tax law changes.    If you need any of the new Schedules 1-6, for instance, then you can't use Free Edition.    You can read about the new schedules at the link below.  If you click the blue "see schedule" link there, it will show you what each schedule looks like.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511015-what-are-the-new-schedules

Here are some common things that cannot be handled by the regular Free Edition:

     Itemized deductions
     Business or 1099-MISC income
     Sales of stocks/mutual funds/bonds
     Rental property income
     Foreign Earned Income
     HSA
     Credits, deductions and income reported on the new schedules 1–6, such as the Student Loan Interest Deduction

TurboTax also  has another free product called the TurboTax Free File Program.  It is free for both Federal and State--IF you meet just one of the qualifications.   It can handle all the usual forms without the limitations of regular Free Edition. 

You have to meet only ONE of these qualifications:

1) 2018 AGI of $34,000 or less

or

2) Eligible for EIC (earned income credit)

or

3)  Active duty military including Reservists/ National Guard with military W-2 and 2018 AGI of $66,000 or less

See this FAQ for more info:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

If desired, here's how to switch and start over in TurboTax Free File Program.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2026912-how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program

NOTE:  If you switch to Free File Program by that method, and find out later you don't qualify,  you won't be able to go back to regular Online TurboTax in that same account.  So instead of switching that way, if you wish you could start a new account (User ID) at the Free File Program website, which would maintain the option of returning to the other Online TurboTax account, if necessary.

[sylarsrden]

I came to the TurboTax site through the IRS free-file link, so you are incorrect. Turbo Tax is FORCING me to go through the Deluxe part even though I came through the correct Free-Filing links, both on the IRS and Turbo-Tax page. I started in the free filing, and at the end it still says I must switch to Deluxe.

[sylarsrden]

Yeah, the whole "how to switch thing" was already done. So clearly they're looking to fleece the people with student debt, by allowing a "glitch" to make them money

[mesquitebean]

Did you use this website at this link:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/">https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/</a>
It has no fees or upgrades.

If you tried to use that site with a pre-existing TurboTax User ID, it may have put you into regular Free Edition.  YOu have to use a NEW User ID at the TurboTax Free File site, or you have to switch by the method in the FAQ above about how to switch.

[mesquitebean]

It doesn't sound like you were ever using the TurboTax Free File Program, but were using Free Edition.
When your return is open, what edition is displayed when you look in the top left corner next to the TurboTax logo.

There are no upgrades or fees in the TurboTax Free File Program.  If it turns out someone doesn't qualify because they enter too much income, for example, it simply tells them they can't use it and have to select a different product.  

But your situation with student loan interest does not disqualify anyone in TurboTax Free File Program.  It triggers an upgrade only in the regular Free Edition.

[sylarsrden]

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/">https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/</a> is where I started. Which took me to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/">https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/</a> and I got the thing which kept trying to get me to upgrade anyway, and then attempted to force me to buy Deluxe because the student loan interest.

So yes. I did those things. I shall clear cache and try again, but you are literally not giving me new information.

[mesquitebean]

Clearing cache may not be enough.   The User ID you are using may be linked to regular Free Edition at Online TurboTax.

You may need a new User ID to use TurboTax Free File Program, if it keeps putting you into Online TurboTax.

If you already had an Online TurboTax User ID, and tried to log in at  TurboTax Free File Program website, then it likely keeps putting you into Free Edition instead of TurboTax Free File Program.   In that case the only thing to do is use a new account (new User ID)  started at the TurboTax Free File Program site if you can't switch with the FAQ above.