Why is Turbo tax trying to force me to upgrade Self Employed when I am not self employed and can I work around this.

[rbsplace]

I have a company as a sideline business.  I have no income.  0 taxable income after I pay my 1099-NEC expenses.  I don't need Turbo Tax self employed.  Turbo Tax will not let me continue without paying for the upgrade I don't need.

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry yes you need the Self Employed version to enter 1099NEC expenses. You can only enter 1099 income into Deluxe and Premier.  1099NEC is for self employment.

Yes you are the owner of your own self employment business. You are in business for yourself. Use your own info. The people or company that pays you is your customer or client. You need to fill out schedule C for self employment business income. You are considered to have your own business for it. YOU are the business.

[Opus 17]

If you have no other income, you are not required to file any tax return if your net self-employment income is less than $400.  (But even in this case, you may want to file since you can create a net operating loss that carries forward.)

But if you file a tax return for any reason, then you must report all your income, and that includes reporting your side gig on schedule C, even if your expenses are more than your income. 

[VolvoGirl]

If you don't file the 1099NEC on schedule C the IRS will see the whole 1099NEC as income and send you a bill for regular tax on it and the 15% self employment tax.  They won't know about your expenses.  

Self Employment tax (Scheduled SE) is automatically generated if a person has $400 or more of net profit from self-employment. You pay 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of your Net Profit (If it is greater than $400). The 15.3% self employed SE Tax is to pay both the employer part and employee part of Social Security and Medicare (FICA). So you get social security credit for it when you retire.

[Critter-3]

If you are eligible you can use the IRS Free File Program which is free to file both a federal and state tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free