NOTE: In order for this to work, your 2017 and 2018 returns must be in the SAME account.
If you don't intend to use TurboTax for 2018 and decided to downgrade to Free Edition using "clear and start over", then here's how to unlock access to your 2017 return by paying for PLUS at 19.99.
If you decided to continue in Live Basic (79.99 for Federal and 44.99 for state, if applicable), then you do not need to upgrade any farther. In that case you can skip the first steps below about upgrading and go right to the payment steps (the last 5 steps in the list below) to pay for your Live Basic.
- If you cleared your return and started over in Free Edition, then go to the MY INFO section.
- See if there is a link in the left menu column for UPGRADE. If not, then you may have to fill out a screen in that personal info section
first. If so, do that. You can either continue completing the rest of the
My Info section, if you wish, and it will eventually ask you if you want
to upgrade to PLUS. Or after filling out the first screen of personal
info, you can go back to the left menu column and click Upgrade again, and this time it should let you upgrade.
-
NOTE: If the PLUS option is grayed out, that means you are already in PLUS. Do not upgrade any farther, or you'll have problems.
- So once in PLUS, you need to pay for it.
- While the return is still open, click in the left menu column on Tax Tools, then choose Print Center.
- Then choose "Print/save/preview this year's return." (Yes, you say "this year's" since you are paying for the 2018 return to unlock the prior returns.) You won't actually have to print the 2018 return.
- On the next screen choose to "Pay now".
- The next screen should be an Order Summary. Review that, and if all is OK, click Continue.
- It should then prompt you for payment by credit or debit card. The
screen only says "credit card", but it will take a debit card.
NOTE: If it should offer you the option to "pay later" out of the Federal refund, that
can't be used for this unlocking purpose. You will need to pay now by
credit/debit card.
NOTE: Remember all PDF tax documents and data
files are very sensitive files, since they contain your personal ID
info, financial data, and possibly bank account numbers, etc. Be sure
to store them safely and securely to guard against computer theft,
hacking, etc.