Why does upgraded Mac TurboTax Home & Business 2016 not open files prepared with previous version?

[mesquitebean]

Please explain what you mean.    As an example, if you were using desktop Deluxe 2016 (CD/download) and upgraded to 2016 Home and Business, then your product should still be able to open the *.tax2016 data file that you were working on with Deluxe.   It can't open a prior year, however, such as 2015.

Are you experiencing the first scenario; i.e., can your 2016 Home and Business not open a *.tax2016 data file?

[wmsclan3]

Correct. Get message that file has incorrect date or other problem

[wmsclan3]

Correct. Get message that file has incorrect date or other problem

[wmsclan3]

Followup question.  If can't open .file2015, how will it access 2015 return (which had been done previously before applying update files.

[wmsclan3]

Followup question.  If can't open .file2015, how will it access 2015 return (which had been done previously before applying update files.

[mesquitebean]

Please explain what you are trying to do.  It sounds like you have  been trying to open the 2015 return with the 2016 product instead of transferring it into a 2016 return.

If you are trying to open a 2015 file with 2016 product, you cannot do that.  Only the 2015 program can open it.

However, if you want to transfer the *.tax2015 data file into a new 2016 return you CAN do that when you first start the 2016 return..   I can easily tell you how to do it with Windows, but I see you are using a MAC.   So please view this FAQ on how to transfer the 2015 data file into a new 2016 return on a MAC--IF that is what you are trying to do.  It sounds like you want the first blue topic in the FAQ.

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901265-transfer-last-year-s-return-into-2016-turbotax-for-mac">ht...>

[mesquitebean]

NOTE:  Be aware that you can only transfer the 2015 data into a new blank return.   If you've already started a 2016 return without transferring, then you'd need to start over to transfer in the 2015 data.    

If you transferred the 2015 data originally into your 2016 Deluxe when you started the return, the transferred data should still be in the return when you upgraded to Home and Business.

If you need additional help, I can probably attract a Mac SuperUser to this thread.

[mesquitebean]

And please clarify what you did with your product.   In one place you said "upgrade", and in another place you said "apply update files."   Upgrades and updates are 2 different things.  So please clarify that history about what you have been using this year.

[wmsclan3]

My error.   
Downloaded original Mac 2016 app, started return by importing data from .tax2015. Applied updates that became available.  Had almost finished return, but got extension due to chemotherapy treatments.  Tried to open file today to tweak return and got message about not opening file because of wrong date or possibly other problem.  Called TurboTax help line.  Received help to delete 2015 app and wanted me to use reinstall from CD, which I could not find, naturally.  So I downloaded, installed from .dmg file with same end result.  Tried to start a new return, but will not do so.  Suggestions?

[mesquitebean]

The file you have to open to continue your 2016 return ends in *.tax2016.   Are you trying to open the correct file?  Or are you incorrectly trying to open last year's 2015 data file with your current 2016 program?  I'm going to ask someone who uses a Mac to assist you.

@macuser_22 or @Opus 17
Are you able to review this thread and assist this Mac user?  Thanks!

[macuser_22]

Usually that message happens if you are trying to open a file other than a xxxx.tax2016 file or the file has become corrupted - if corrupted then only restoring from a backup copy will fix the problem.

Be sure that the file you are trying to open is  xxx.tax2016 file.   First open the TurboTax application that should be in your Applications folder.  Once the TurboTax application is running use the top menu  bar under "File -> Open Tax Return" and choose the xxxx.tax2016 file that you want to open.

[wmsclan3]

But... Can't start a new file, either!

[macuser_22]

Do you mean that if you go to "File -> New Tax Return" it does not open a new untitled blank return?  What happens?

[wmsclan3]

Nothing happens!  No spinning wheel.  Nothing