How can I open a .TAX file saved in a previous version of turbo tax?

[stevenblomquist1]

I have three tax years returns not saved as a .pdf but rather as .TAX files that were created with Turbo Tax. The years are 2000 to 2003. How can these files be converted to .pdf if I don't have the TT disc?

[cclayton53]

I have the same question for tax year 2003. You'd think TurboTax would offer at least some kind of free viewing plug-in for all years. Microsoft does for all their Office programs even if you never bought an Office program.

[ChondelLO]

Please visit the TurboTax Help article below for information on how to open a .tax file.

How do I open my tax return in the TurboTax softwa...

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

@cclayton53   You could try the TaxPrinter service to convert a .tax file to pdf at
https://www.taxprinter.com

They might be expensive and it is probably not safe to email tax returns back and forth. They are not related to Turbo Tax. I don't know if they can do State.

[cclayton53]

Thanks. I have hard copies for every year in an off-site storage space. I was just trying to avoid driving there and digging them out since I still have every year on my computer. Only a couple of years before the "Save As PDF" option was introduced for me though, thankfully.

[iltt01]

If I understand the answers, then the current version of turbotax only opens the current year tax file. If I try to use the current version of turbotax to open a previous year tax, then all I get is the option to import that previous year tax into the current year tax.  If this is the case, then this is no good at all.  I have a new computer with only the current version of turbotax 2021, but I have several years' worth of turbotax tax files in storage that I need to access. Does it mean that if I want to open the 2020 turbotax file then I have to install the year 2020 turbotax program? And so forth for each previous year?

Clearly turbotax 2021 is capable of recognizing the file as a turbotax file 2020, why couldn't it just open it? To make thing more interesting now the 2020 file has the file type associated with the 2021 exe, so if you double-click on the file, it just goes back to the same display.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, and maybe it is time to check another tax program to see if they have a different approach.

Ivan Lozada, [email address removed]

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry but yes you need the proper year program installed to open that year tax file.  Each year is separate.  All tax places are that way.  You have to buy a new program each year.   There are too many changes each year.   You should have each year saved as both the .taxyyyy file and as a PDF file.  Then you don't need the program installed to view your return. 

Otherwise if you don't want to install each year  you could try the TaxPrinter service to convert a .tax file to pdf at  https://www.taxprinter.com

They might be expensive and it is probably not safe to email tax returns back and forth. They are not related to Turbo Tax. I don't know if they can do State.

[VolvoGirl]

If you do decide to install the old years.  They only support the last 3 years so you won't be able to update older years or download any state programs you need.

After you get the program reinstalled the first thing to do before you open your tax return is to update the program and install any state programs you had. Then open your file. So you first might need to start a fake return to be able to download the state program (go to FILE - NEW). Enter some basic information, then go to the state tab and download the state program. Then try to open your existing return, go to FILE - OPEN

[cclayton53]

I don't need to edit any forms, just wanted to view, but thanks

[VolvoGirl]

You can open the pdf files on any computer.   

or You can also request a transcript from the IRS

Get Transcript | Internal Revenue Service