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jjlutes
Level 1
June 5, 2019
Question

How do I open all my old turbotax returns 1999-2016? Without having to install all my old versions of turbotax?

  • June 5, 2019
  • 9 replies
  • 23 views
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9 replies

macuser_22
Alumni - Champ
macuser_22Alumni - Champ
Alumni - Champ
June 5, 2019

TurboTax files can only be read with the TurboTax software for each tax year.

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**
    B
    burnsthe
    Level 2
    June 26, 2020

    How do I get 2016 tax return software

    DoninGA
    Level 15
    DoninGALevel 15
    Level 15
    June 26, 2020
    @burnsthe wrote:

    How do I get 2016 tax return software

    Go to this TurboTax website for the 2016 desktop software - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/past-years-products/

    VolvoGirl
    VolvoGirl
    Level 15
    June 5, 2019
    And if you do get the versions older than 2014 installed again you may not be able to update them or download any state programs you need.  If you can't download the state you may not be able to open your return.  Do you just have the .tax files for them?  Or did you save them a pdf files also?  You don't need the program installed to view a pdf file.

    OR you could try the TaxPrinter service at  http://www.taxprinter.com

    They might be expensive and it is probably not safe to email tax returns back and forth  Their Website says…….
    We read most federal and state files (Windows and Macintosh) from years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013... Known exceptions are TurboTax 1997 and TaxCut 2005 files which we can't read for technical reasons.

    OR get a copy from the IRS -
    http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
      H
      hljackso
      Level 2
      September 15, 2022

      After paying $50 for the tax software years ago, who would want to pay more just to print a file.

      Intuit should provide a FREE service to print old .tax files.

        J
        JJCC6391
        Level 2
        October 20, 2022

        For the 2017 Tax Year I used TurboTax online. At the end I was given the option to save or print. I saved into the only file format they allowed which was .tax2017  and sadly I didn't print a paper copy. In 2022 I needed to view a copy of my 2017 but you can only open it with special Turbotax software that you must pay for twice just to get a copy of your old tax return. That is really a rip off that TT protected my data with their encryption. Anyway I stopped using Turbotax completely starting in 2020 and my new tax preparation service stores your tax return in the cloud for 7 years and prints in .pdf file format anytime you want. It's also 1/4th the price of Turbotax. Now you can create an account at IRS to access rough data about your returns. I use t__hawk . com and It's a no brainer really, I'll never go back to TT.

        B
        burnsthe
        Level 2
        June 26, 2020

        I want to view my 2016 tax return online

        DoninGA
        Level 15
        DoninGALevel 15
        Level 15
        June 26, 2020
        @burnsthe wrote:

        I want to view my 2016 tax return online

        To access your current or prior year tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the userID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

        Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

         

        See this TurboTax support FAQ for accessing prior year online tax returns - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

         

        If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

         

        Or go to this IRS website for free federal tax return transcripts - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

        For a fee of $50 you can get a complete federal tax return from the IRS by completing Form 4506 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

          A
          Anonymous
          February 22, 2022

          I am using desktop and had to reload my computer.  Lost last years software and and have all the files but I saved the PDF incorrectly.  If I have 2021 installed, can I reinstall 2020?

          B
          BillM223
          Level 15
          July 5, 2020

          @ajn267

           

          Do you have a question that was not answered above?

          **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
          A
          ajn267
          Level 2
          July 5, 2020

          Re: How do I open all my old turbotax returns 1999-2016? Without having to install all my old versions of turbotax?

            B
            BillM223
            Level 15
            July 5, 2020

            As mac_user said above, you can open TurboTax tax files (like *.tax2019) only with the software for that year.

             

            See DoninGA's answer for how to get that software if you no longer have it.

             

            @ajn267

             

            **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
            VolvoGirl
            VolvoGirl
            Level 15
            July 5, 2020

            You should have been saving each year as a pdf file when you were done.  Then you don't need the program installed.

             

            If you can’t find or install the program to open a .tax file you can use www.taxprinter.com to convert a .tax file to pdf.  No connection to Turbo Tax .  They might be expensive.

              T
              tnparson
              Level 2
              April 12, 2021

              How to open my 2019 2020 Turbotax return

              VolvoGirl
              VolvoGirl
              Level 15
              April 12, 2021

              @tnparson  Are you using the Desktop program (Windows or Mac?) or the Online version?  Didn't you save them as pdf files?  If you used the Desktop program you need to have the .tax2019 and .tax2020 files on your computer to open in the program.  If you only have the .tax files you need the program installed to open them.  

               

               

              M
              mannygarcia20
              Level 2
              May 14, 2021

              If I've already paid for the states (2019) why do I have to pay again to just print my old taxes? This is a rip-off.

                VolvoGirl
                VolvoGirl
                Level 15
                May 14, 2021

                How to download your purchase

                https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/installing/help/how-do-i-download-the-software-i-purchased-at-turbotax-com/00/26075

                 

                Access your downloads here

                https://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/commerce/account/secure/login.jsp?pagecontext=download

                 

                Can't find your purchase?

                https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2565823-why-can-t-i-find-my-purchase-after-signing-in-to-my-downloads

                M
                mannygarcia20
                Level 2
                May 14, 2021

                Thanks for the reply but I've already downloaded the, I've paid for NY(paid), PA(paid), and GA (Free) is my main. So, now it has PA as my main and asking for GA to be paid. This is nonsense. 

                J
                Joseriverasr61
                Level 2
                November 17, 2022

                How do I get a copy of my old tax returns from 2000-2009

                  X
                  Level 15
                  xmasbaby0Level 15
                  Level 15
                  November 17, 2022

                  TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven  years; returns older than that are gone.

                  **Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
                  S
                  SwabbyK
                  Level 2
                  March 30, 2023

                  You are out of luck.  If you didn't make PDF's of your returns, you'll have to reinstall TurboTax for that tax year.  I don't remove old Turbotaxes.  I probably have a dozen years still ready to use.  I had to use tax-year 2021 a couple of times this year, but in the past I've had to go back farther than that and found it very helpful to have it still installed.

                  D
                  davenj
                  Level 4
                  March 30, 2023

                  Thanks.  I am trying to access returns from 2001-2003.  I've changed computers several times since then, so I'm really out of luck.   The old versions will not install on the new operating systems.  I get a runtime error from Visual C++ at the last installation step.  I'll have to pay to have the files converted to pdf.

                   

                  Turbotax does not support long-time customers.  I wish there were an alternative. 

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