If you are entering education expenses ( except for student loan interest) you are not preparing a "simple" Form 1040---you are preparing a return that requires more forms and schedules---so you are required to upgrade to a paid version of the software.
If you started in the Free Edition and entered any data that required any extra forms or schedules, you have to upgrade to a paid version and if you are watching the screens carefully you are alerted to the upgrade.
TurboTax Online: Important Details about Filing Simple Form 1040 Returns
If you have a simple Form 1040 return only (no forms or schedules except as needed to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or student loan interest), you can file for free yourself with TurboTax Free Edition, or you can file with TurboTax Live Assisted Basic at the listed price. Roughly 37% of taxpayers are eligible.
Examples of situations included in a simple Form 1040 return (assuming no added tax complexity):
- W-2 income
- Interest, dividends or original issue discounts (1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
- IRS standard deduction
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Child Tax Credit (CTC)
- Student loan interest deduction
- Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions
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Examples of situations not included in a simple Form 1040 return:
- Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A, like charitable contributions, medical expenses, mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions
- Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
- Business or 1099-NEC income (often reported by those who are self-employed, gig workers or freelancers)
- Stock sales (including crypto investments)
- Income from rental property or property sales
- Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules
- 1095A for marketplace health insurance
How can I see my TurboTax fees?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/intuit-account-billing/review-fees-turbo...
If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons (BEFORE you e-file) :
Or—-Use this IRS site for other ways to file for free. There are 8 free software versions available from the IRS Free File site
https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/
Or—if you live in certain states you may be eligible to use the new IRS Direct File
In Filing Season 2025, Direct File will be available in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
https://directfile.irs.gov/
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
