I have filed my taxes with TurboTax from 2011 through 2016. I paid for atleast deluxe each year. Why is it saying I need to pay this year to access prior year returns?

[DoninGA]

To access a prior year online tax return and you did not use TurboTax for the 2017 tax return or you did not pay for one of the 2017 online editions of either Plus, Deluxe, Premier or Self-Employed, you will need to start a 2018 Free online tax return and then Upgrade and pay for the Plus edition ($19.99).  You do not have to file the 2018 tax return only pay for the upgrade.

Go to this TurboTax website for the 2018 online editions - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/

You have to sign onto the 2018 account using the exact same User ID you used to create the prior year online tax return.  Enter your personal information in the 2018 Free edition. On the left side of the screen click on Upgrade.  Scroll down and select PLUS More Help & Tools.  Click on Upgrade Now (if Plus is grayed out then you are already using Plus and only need to pay for the upgrade)

To pay the TurboTax online account fees by credit card so you can access your prior year online tax returns, click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen.  Then click on Print Center.  Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return.  On the next page, to pay by credit card, click Pay Now.  On the next screen just click on the Continue button.  The next screen will show a review of your Fees, click on Continue.  Complete the next screen to pay by credit card and click Continue.

[deverett8366]

I understand this from what the website told me.  What I don't understand is that if I paid for the year that I filed, it shouldn't now cost me money to access a return I already paid for.  That's ridiculous!!

[DoninGA]

See this TurboTax support FAQ for when access to the online tax returns expire - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3355524-when-does-access-to-my-prior-year-turbotax-online-returns-...>

If you used and paid for the 2016 Deluxe online edition, then you had access to all online tax returns through October 2018.

[deverett8366]

I paid for the Deluxe version in 2015 and filed with TurboTax.  Now I can't get a copy of my 2015 return without paying for a version this year.  

[DoninGA]

You can also get free transcripts of your federal return from the IRS - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript">http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript</a>

For a fee of $50 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf</a>