TurboTax is trying to charge me for a self employment tax fee. I'm not filing for self employment; I have regular W-2's.

[rwmccarty42]

How to I get the charge off of my taxes? I'm not self employed and never have been.

[retiree · Accepted solution]

The Free version cannot handle all tax forms (or situations).  There are several places in the TTax interview where, based on YOUR answer(s) or inputted information, TTax may determine that the Free version cannot handle your return, or offer you additional features.

In such cases it will offer to upgrade you (for a charge) to the Deluxe or higher versions more suitable for your tax situation --in each case there will be at least 2 screens that identify that you cannot continue with the Free version.

The upgrade is NOT automatic, in each situation it is you that decided to 'continue' with the upgraded version, thus incurring the additional charge.

NOTE: If you have previously used TTax On-Line and used an upgraded version, that will likely force your new return to the same upgraded version.

How to clear and start over.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2586254

NOTE:
If you DO NOT want to re-transfer last year's data after clearing your return, pay special attention to the 'pop-up' window "Are you sure you want to clear your return?"

There is a subtle option just above the blue "Yes" & "No" buttons.
MAKE SURE the box is UNCHECKED.   (The default is 'checked' to re-transfer your data)

If the 'pop-up' window does not appear then try this work-around:
*  Go to My Account
*  Tools
*  Transfer last year's TurboTax return from your computer (Note it does say "from your computer")
*  Continue
*  Continue without Transferring

If you have already paid for your return TTax Will NOT let you clear and start over.

[chriss520]

Once paid for you can't start over. So you just have to count the extra money charges as a loss?

[nipstare]

Your solution might have worked when you answered but now as of Apr 2022 when I go to my account the tools you speak of don't show up and if I were to try to upgrade, any version previous to self employed is greyed out and I cant select it.  Is there any other way around this? I'm now a full time student and don't have any W2's or 1099's.  I only have my school's 1098T form.  I have not paid yet.

[RaifH]

You can clear and start over. At that point, you can choose the product that fits your situation, or start with the most basic one and TurboTax will ask you to upgrade as you add forms that can't be completed with the version you are currently using. You will require at least TurboTax Deluxe if you are a full-time student with Form 1098-T to claim any education tax credit. However, if you are a dependent on someone else's tax return, Form 1098-T would be reported on their return. In that case, you probably do not have to file at all. To clear your return and start over:

1. Log in to TurboTax and open or continue your return.
2. On the left side menu, select Tax Tools
3. Select Clear & Start Over
4. Confirm that you are erasing your information and will have to re-enter everything

@nipstare