How do I file without having to pay for expert advice even on-demand?

You do not have to pay for TurboTax expert advice.  Click here to start in TurboTax free edition. 

About 37% of taxpayers can use TurboTax Free Edition. TurboTax Free Edition is intended for taxpayers who file a simple Form 1040 only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Student Loan Interest).

If TurboTax detects that your tax situation requires additional coverage, like deductions for owning a home, unemployment income, or self-employment income, you will be prompted to upgrade to a version that supports the forms you need so that you can maximize your tax deductions and file an accurate return.

Examples of situations included in a simple Form 1040 return (assuming no added tax complexity):

• W-2 income
• Interest, dividends or original issue discounts (1099-INT/1099-DIV/1099-OID) that don’t require filing a Schedule B
• IRS standard deduction
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Student loan interest deduction
• Taxable qualified retirement plan distributions

Examples of situations not included in a simple Form 1040 return:

• Itemized deductions claimed on Schedule A, like charitable contributions, medical expenses, mortgage interest and state and local tax deductions
• Unemployment income reported on a 1099-G
• Business or 1099-NEC income (often reported by those who are self-employed, gig workers or freelancers)
• Stock sales (including crypto investments)
• Income from rental property or property sales
• Credits, deductions and income reported on other forms or schedules

Some things that are not covered in the free edition are as follows:

• Unemployment income
• Retirement Savings Contribution Credit for 401(k) and IRA contributions
• Education credits
• Child Dependent Care Credit

Click here for Why do I have to upgrade from Free Edition?