When I am ready to file my taxes you tell me I have to upgrade to do schedule 3 but you are not telling me why?

[Trustatry]

It would or should have showed up as I was filling in the info. The only option it gives you is to upgrade. Are you trying to get money out of me knowing I don't need to upgrade? Tell me why I have to upgrade if not I will be using another service.

[xmasbaby0]

Here is a copy of a Schedule 3-----are you entering any of the "stuff" you see on Schedule 3?   If so, you have to upgrade to a paid version.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040s3.pdf

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

[Trustatry]

Yes thank you for that info but they are not telling me why I have to do a schedule 3. I won't spend money that I don't need to.  I just want to know why?

[Trustatry]

That's fine.  I will go to the IRS site and file because I use Turbo every year with the same information and I have never had to to schedule 3.  Thanks anyway.

[xmasbaby0]

We cannot see your tax return so we have no idea what you entered that is triggering the upgrade.   When you enter something in Free Edition that requires an upgrade you are told on the screen that it will require you to upgrade.  Perhaps you missed noticing it.

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   If you started in the Free Edition and entered any data that required any of those three schedules, you have to upgrade to a paid version and if you are watching the screens carefully you are alerted to the upgrade.

When you chose to “start”  in the Free Edition —

Directly below the words “Free Edition” there is a blue link that says “For simple tax returns only”   If you click that link it brings up this information:

You can file with TurboTax Free Edition if you have a simple tax return.*

*A simple tax return is Form 1040 only.

Situations covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:

• W-2 income
• Limited interest and dividend income reported on a 1099-INT or 1099-DIV
• Claiming the standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC)
• Child tax credits
• Student Loan Interest deduction

Situations not covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:

• Itemized deductions
• Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
• Business or 1099-NEC income
• Stock sales
• Rental property income
• Credits, deductions and income reported on schedules 1-3

How does TurboTax make any money?

Customers with more complex tax situations will file with our paid TurboTax products that provide all the additional forms and guidance they need. We also offer additional benefits that go beyond filing your taxes, but they are optional and are not required to file simple taxes for free. We hope that, over time, as our customers with simple returns need more capabilities as their financial situations change (for example owning a home, having a child, managing investments), they have loved our products and services so much that they will choose our paid TurboTax offerings to prepare and file their returns.

How can I see my TurboTax  fees? 

  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565973-how-do-i-review-my-fees-in-turbotax-online

If your TurboTax fees are higher than expected, you can reduce them by removing add-ons     (BEFORE you e-file) :

• Remove Premium Services
• Remove MAX Defend & Restore
• Remove a state
• Remove PLUS Help & Support
• Remove Pay With Your Refund

[Trustatry]

Thanks for that info but why does it not tell you that you have to file schedule 3 because you entered such and such info? They tell you everything else.  They did that when I filed my daughters taxes.  When I entered the info in, they automatically told me I would have to do schedule 3. Not wait until end and tell me and not telling me what for.

[xmasbaby0]

@Trustatry If you do not want to pay for using TurboTax, then try one of the other ways of filing for free that were provided to you.   Not sure what more you think can be done since we cannot see your tax return and do not know what you entered that requires Schedule 3.

[xmasbaby0]

Try this----preview your Form 1040 -- it should let you see Schedules 1-3.  Look and see what is on Schedule 3

PREVIEW 1040

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901539-how-do-i-preview-my-turbotax-online-return-before-filing

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on Tools. Click on View Tax Summary. Click on Preview my 1040 on the left side of the screen.