Why is it still making me pay to file my state and federal taxes even though it advertises as free?

[kyleeshoffner02-]

I already reviewed my info and selected the option to pay with the money that was in my refund, but now I cannot go back. I did not realize it was supposed to be free until I saw it advertised as free multiple times before finishing my file. Also, I didn’t use the option that required any assistance from tax experts.

[Vanessa A]

Not everyone qualifies for free filing.  Free filing is only for simple returns.  

Situations covered (assuming no added tax complexity):

• W-2 income
• Interest or dividends (1099-INT/1099-DIV) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
• IRS standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Student loan interest deduction

Situations not covered:

• Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A
• Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
• Business or 1099-NEC income
• Stock sales (including crypto investments)
• Rental property income
• Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules

If you don’t have a Form 1040 return with limited credits, we have other paid options to file using TurboTax.

How does TurboTax make any money?

We want our customers to love our products and services. Because we have customers who pay for our premium products and services, we can offer free tax filing. We offer additional paid benefits that go beyond filing your Form 1040 return with limited credits for free, but they're optional.