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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 10:45:42 PM

How do I file last years's return?

Is last year's version still available?

0 2 768
1 Best answer
Alumni
May 31, 2019 10:45:44 PM

Turbotax Online works only for current year (2016) taxes, and not for any other year.
If you want to use TurboTax for any other year you will need to purchase the Desktop Version for each year that you need to file. You can do that at this link:
http://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products.jsp

You can download the Forms and Instructions free from the IRS web site at this link:
http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/priorFormPublication.html

In any event, you have to file the return by mail. Turbotax does not support e-file of prior year returns. Tip: If you prepare multiple years of prior returns, mail each one to the IRS in a separate envelope to be sure that each one is recognized as a separate tax return.

2 Replies
Alumni
May 31, 2019 10:45:44 PM

Turbotax Online works only for current year (2016) taxes, and not for any other year.
If you want to use TurboTax for any other year you will need to purchase the Desktop Version for each year that you need to file. You can do that at this link:
http://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products.jsp

You can download the Forms and Instructions free from the IRS web site at this link:
http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/priorFormPublication.html

In any event, you have to file the return by mail. Turbotax does not support e-file of prior year returns. Tip: If you prepare multiple years of prior returns, mail each one to the IRS in a separate envelope to be sure that each one is recognized as a separate tax return.

New Member
May 31, 2019 10:45:45 PM

Okay, I suppose that makes some sense if nothing was done at all, but as recent as Nov/Dec I recall looking at the status of my TurboTax Live filing thinking i was almost there, but then life happened as it often does, and we had to sell our home, blah blah blah who cares, and we just never quite finished.

I mean I put a lot, and I do honestly mean a very large number of hours into last years return; occasionally even thinking: "well they're online so it will always be there for me to finish, I'll just go click the button and we can do the live review and go from there" as this was my though in Nov/Dec..

Is there anything I can do to get this work back? I mean even if it needs to be printed and mailed, cool, but the 20+ hours (minimum) of work I'd really, really rather not even think where in storage our paperwork from back then is, let alone the time just to handwrite... OMG please, please, please tell me you have it!

Do I still get the consultation I was and am willing to pay for? Is it still true in almost 2020 that we can't e-file a prior years returns, because that's just silly (really should just be a simple snippet of code to be changed) but they are the government I suppose.

That is way more than enough from me at this point! I trust you get my gist?