We used a CPA last year, using TurboTax for decades before. We need help from TurboTax'sexperts to migrating our 2021 paper return back to TurboTax. Is that possible?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
January 5, 2023
8 replies
80 views

We owned our daughter's home 50%, paid off the mortgage early in 2021, and refused any of the home sale value when it sold in 2021. We were not able to use TurboTax to file, so went to a CPA. We have the entire file in pdf and wonder if TurboTax has anyone who is able to transfer that to TurboTax 2022, so that we may return to using it again, as we have for decades.

TurboTax Online

rjs

Level 15

You certainly can go back to using TurboTax, but there is no way to transfer any meaningful amount of information from a PDF into TurboTax. You might be able to transfer from a PDF that you got from the CPA, depending on what software the CPA used. The only way to know for sure is to try it. But even if it works, it will only transfer some basic information such as your personal information and dependents.

But you don't have to transfer the previous year's return. You can just start a new return as if you are using TurboTax for the first time, and enter everything by hand. TurboTax will ask you to enter any 2021 information that's needed. I'll bet the CPA did not transfer information from your 2020 TurboTax return.

It will be a little extra work going back to TurboTax for 2022, but then you will be able to continue using it every year like you did in the past.

EGLinkAuthor

Level 2

The CPA certainly DID use data from our decades of TurboTax use, because I sent PDFs of the previous 3 years, plus included paper printouts of those years. It was a lot, but he did not need to ask us for any additional information to complete our taxes, specifically because we used complete TurboTax PDFs of those three previous years. Those PDFs included data which reached back over 10 years, too.

So the only solution is to start fresh with decades of very important data missing?
Or will anyone from TurboTax be capable of assisting us in this effort to get back on track? We have no plans for any future investments, no real estate (home paid for since 2008), and nothing that should require any help from a CPA.

EGLinkAuthor

Level 2

We also did as much of our taxes as possible using TurboTax 2021, then passed that on to the CPA, definitely reducing what he needed to do on his own for our taxes.

Opus 17

Level 15

Turbotax can only import basic info like name and address from a PDF. Everything else needs to be entered manually.

Turbotax Online has the Live Assistance and Live Full Service options at additional cost.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/live

If using Turbotax installed on your own computer, you will just have to run the interview and copy across information as it is needed.

There are some other important differences between the desktop and online versions you might want to know about.

Desktop	Online
Your file is on your computer only. You are responsible for backup and security.	Your file is in the cloud. You can work on your tax return from any web-connected computer, and Turbotax handles backups and security.
You can prepare an unlimited number of returns from one installed program, and e-file the first 5.	Each tax return requires a separate online account with a different user name and password, and each online account will require a separate filing fee.
Deluxe, Premier and Home&Business version all contain the same forms. More expensive versions contain extra help and support for complex situations. You can prepare advanced returns with the cheaper Deluxe version if you don't need the extra support.	You must upgrade to the more expensive Premier or Self-Employed version if you have a tax situation that requires those features.
Can directly view and edit all forms and worksheets in Forms mode. (Note that direct entry on forms may void the accuracy guarantee and/or block e-filing.)	Can't view any forms until after paying the fee, can't directly edit forms, must use interview mode.
Requires a relatively up to date operating system.	Works with almost any browser, even on older Macs and PCs.
Free telephone support includes help using the program as well as some basic tax advice.	Free telephone support only includes help using the program. For tax advice, online users must upgrade to the Turbotax Live version.
Live expert assistance not available	Expert assistance (Live Assistance or Live Full Service) is available at an extra cost
No free version (you must pay for the software up front)	Simple returns may be free to file.
Discounts may be available from reliable third party sellers (Amazon, Costco, others)	Must purchase directly from Turbotax, prices subject to change at any time.
Must purchase the software up front but there is a 60 day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied	Only pay when you are satisfied with your return and ready to file, no refunds after that.