TurboTax 2021 CD

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
June 23, 2023
2 replies
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I have been using TurboTax for years but only as CDs. Recently I had to upgrade my laptop (and change hard drives). I had been backing up my TurboTax datafiles to another zip drive. But all the installed CD data wasn't (and I figured I would have the CDs anyways in case I need to reinstall). As it turned out, now I have lost several years' CDs.

1. I have lost Tax year 2021 CD. This is the most pressing one/priority one.

2. I have also lost Tax years: 2019 and all prior years. These I can live without, if push comes to shove.

My question: How do I access my 2021 Tax return if need be (generally I refer back to at least 1-2 years prior when I am doing the current return - e.g., for Tax Year 2023, I may refer back to my 2022 and 2021 and now 2021 is missing) - if I don't have that on my laptop? Where can I get prior years - in this case 2021 CD?

Critter-3

Level 15

By chance do you still have the installation file on the old computer that was downloaded from the CD ? If so simply save that to a thumb drive to move to the new computer like you did with the PDF and .taxfiles.

Critter-3

Level 15

It's always a good idea to make a backup copy of your tax data file, in case your original gets lost or corrupted. Here's how:

From the File menu in the upper-left corner of TurboTax, choose Save As (Windows) or Save (Mac).
Browse to where you want to save your backup.
- Tip: If you're saving to a portable device, save it to your computer first to prevent data corruption. Then, after completing Step 4, copy or move the backup file to your device.
In the File name field, enter a name that will distinguish it from the original tax file (for example, add "Backup" or "Copy" to the file name)
Click Save and then close TurboTax.
Restart TurboTax and open the backup copy to make sure it's not corrupted. If you get an error, delete the backup and repeat these steps.

If you make changes to your original tax return file, repeat these steps to ensure your original and backup copies are in-synch.

Related Information:

AND save it as a PDF so you have access to a copy even if you don’t have the program still installed and operational :

AND protect the files :

How can I protect the tax files on my computer?

SteamTrain

Level 15

Of course, you could also just buy a new download installation file to read the 2021 data if you don't have the PDF files. You would then need to start a dummy file to download whatever state(s) you may need before you try to open the older 2021 datafile.

Buying a downloaded 2021 installation file doesn't depend on any new laptops having a physical CD drive too.....adn you can then download the file again if needed for 3-4 years (depending on what year is involved)

TurboTax 2021 Prior Year Tax Prep - File Past Years' Taxes (intuit.com)

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Of course, if you bought the CD, but then used the download option to get that TTX installation file instead, then you may already have a 2021 installation file within an existing TTX account that you could use now.....but not if you actually used the CD itself to install 2021.

____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*