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Sounds like you entered something that caused an upgrade to a paid version.
If you have not registered, paid or e-filed you can clear and start over in a lower version of the software.
CLEAR AND START OVER
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2586254-how-do-i-clear-and-start-over
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp
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:
Situations not covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:
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.
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://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629
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) :
Sounds like you entered something that caused an upgrade to a paid version.
If you have not registered, paid or e-filed you can clear and start over in a lower version of the software.
CLEAR AND START OVER
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2586254-how-do-i-clear-and-start-over
https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/free-edition.jsp
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:
Situations not covered in TurboTax Free Edition include:
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.
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://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2629
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) :
They try all kinds of gimmicks to upgrade you. They are trying force an update on my son. He made a very small IRA contribution this year and as indicated on his W2. He qualifies for an $8 retirement saving credit lol. I mean, to get this $8 he would have to pay to upgrade to TurboTax Deluxe. It's not worth it, if he can't undo and eliminate the 8880 form in Turbo Tax and allow Uncle Sam to keep the $8 and file state and federal for free, we're just going to file with a much cheaper online company like Free Tax USA and then claim the $8 credit with them. Crazy to pay over $40 with turbo tax to get $8 more refund.
@bleblanc2 You can trick the software into disqualifying your son for that little retirement credit by saying in MY INFO that he was a student. Then it should let him use the Free Edition.
Thank you so much! That did it and saved the trouble of going to another company and reentering all this information again
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