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March 15, 2020
Question

How do we do a childs return? Last year we were able to just click on new return. I don't see that option now.

  • March 15, 2020
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Employee
March 15, 2020

You  are posting from online Turbotax.  

When you use Online TurboTax, you get one return per fee.  Each return needs its own account and user ID.   If you use the same account and user ID for a second return, you overwrite the first one and lose it forever.

When you use Desktop TurboTax, which you install from a CD or download to your own hard drive, you can prepare and e-file multiple returns for the cost of the software.  You can e-file up to 5 Federal returns—more if you mail the additional ones.  If you have multiple returns to prepare for family members, Desktop is more cost effective.

 

Desktop --unless you specifically buy federal  Deluxe only from a retailer-- will include the software for one specific state.   You can prepare as many returns for that state as the number of federal returns you prepare.  E-filing state returns is an extra fee which can be avoided by printing and mailing the states.   Additional--other--state software is an additional fee for the software.

 

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901306-how-many-times-can-i-e-file-using-the-turbotax-cd-or-download

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2942039-what-s-the-difference-between-turbotax-online-and-the-turbotax-cd-download

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2750704-what-are-the-advantages-of-the-turbotax-cd-download-software-over-the-online-version

 

 

 

Note--- if you stay in online TT you may be able to use the Free Edition if your child has a VERY simple return or you could try Free File.

 

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://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040 

If you qualify to use it, there is another full-featured free version of the software:

Try Free File: 

You qualify if your income was $36,000 or less, or $69,000 or less if active duty military, or if you qualify for Earned Income Credit

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900583-what-is-turbotax-free-file-program

If you switch to Free File you must create a new account and new user ID.

 

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4511011-what-happened-to-the-1040a-and-1040ez

 

Note:  If you do not qualify to use Free File then you will have to upgrade to Deluxe or higher in the paid versions of the software.   

**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.**