Do I have this right? The ONLY way for my retired father to enter Schedule C business expenses is for him to PAY for the self-employed version? He is on a fixed income.

Can he qualify for this free one?

There is also The Turbo Tax Free File program which is free for federal and state.  And has more forms than the Federal Free Edition, like Schedules A, B, C , D, E, F, EIC, H, K-1, SE,  etc.

To qualify for the Free File website  you just need to meet one of these 3 things.

AGI $36,000 or less.

Active duty military with AGI of $69,000 or less

OR qualify for EIC (earned income credit.)

In order to use the Free File program, you have to start it at a special website.  Click on Sign in at the top right.  It may let you continue your return so you don't have to start over.

https://freefile.intuit.com/

How to switch to the Free File website

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/downgrading/help/how-do-i-switch-to-turbotax-free-file-program/01/26264

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@d0946m wrote:
How is it that Intuit sees fit to charge a retired old person $90 to enter a business expense

because the Supreme Court requires him to maintain business records for seven years?

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Intuit charges based on the complexity of the return.  Schedule C makes it more complex.   Why would you expect otherwise?

Why do you think the Supreme Court requires him to maintain records for 7 years?  And what does that have to do with paying for assistance with filing his tax return?

The cost of income tax software is deductible on the Schedule C.

When using the Turbotax software for SCH C business income/expenses:

If using the online version and you want to claim your business expenes, you *MUST* purchase and use the Self-Emloyed Version. Period.

If using the Desktop version that you physically install on your PC or MAC computer, then you can use the Premier version of higher. I personally find the desktop version not only to be the cheaper route, but in my opinion it's significantly more versatile and user-friendly than the online version by far.