how do make a copy of last years return to put it on my new computer?

[user17703414670]

Hello, 

I bought a new computer that has windows 11 because my old one could not be upgraded. How do I make a copy of my 2024 tax return and put it on my new computer. This is one of the first things your program identifies as an issue when you get into turbotax and when you click on the link it takes you to the first page of your site. It does not lead to an answer. One would expect a person to get an answer to the question when the link "explain this" is clicked on. 

[mesquitebean]

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@user17703414670  wrote:

I bought a new computer that has windows 11 because my old one could not be upgraded. How do I make a copy of my 2024 tax return and put it on my new computer. This is one of the first things your program identifies as an issue when you get into turbotax and when you click on the link it takes you to the first page of your site. It does not lead to an answer. One would expect a person to get an answer to the question when the link "explain this" is clicked on. 

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If you have the *.tax2024 data file on your old computer,  you can copy it to a USB flash drive.  Then use that flash drive to copy it to the new Win 11 computer.   Then you can use the 2025 TurboTax program to transfer the 2024 data into a new 2025 return.    The default location for TurboTax data files and PDFs is the Documents\TurboTax folder.

ADDENDUM 2/05/26 at 6:04 PM Pacific

Also see the additional information that VolvoGirl has left you in a comment below, such as making/saving your various past year PDFs in case you ever need them to view/print a return.   Once a desktop product is over 3 years old, it can no longer be activated.

[VolvoGirl]

You only need the file ending in .tax2024 to transfer into 2025.

On the old computer, Your tax files end in .tax or .tax2022 or .tax2023 or .tax2024 etc.  They should be in your Documents in a Turbo Tax folder.  You should also have the pdf files of each year.  Or search your computer for all files ending in .tax.  Also if you haven't done it,  I would open each year in the program and save it as a PDF file, go to File-Save to PDF so you don't need the program installed to view or print your return in the future like to get a mortgage or loan, etc.

What I would do is just copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents.  That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored.  Copy that folder to a flash drive or best yet is to burn it to a CD or DVD and then you will have a backup of them.   Then on the new computer copy the folder (or files) from the flash drive to your Documents folder.

 See this article on how to move your tax return to another computer…….

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/how-do-i-move-my-tax-data-file-to-another-compu...