@SeniorUser wrote:
Thank you! I've now changed my 2021 form back to 1040. --And I do have the tax2020 file on my computer, having used the desktop version of the 2020 (Deluxe) program. Now what?
OK, great. In order to transfer the *.tax2020 data file, you have to start a new 2021 return in the 2021 desktop software. You cannot transfer 2020 into a 2021 return that has already been started. It has to be a new blank return.
The following steps are for the Windows version. I don't use the Mac version, but it may be similar. The point is that you have to start a new return.
First make a mental note of where your *.tax2020 data file is located. In the Windows version, the default location for *.taxYYYY data files is the \Documents\TurboTax folder. That's the easiest place for TurboTax to find it.
Then launch your 2021 TurboTax program. At the main initial screen, click the blue button "Start a New Return", or an alternate way to start one is to go up to the top left corner of the TurboTax interface and click on FILE, and in the dropdown menu choose "NEW TAX RETURN." TurboTax will start to churn, and you'll see it searching your computer looking for the *.tax2020 data file. If it finds the *.tax2020 data file, it will display a blue button "Transfer Return". Click that, and the transfer process should start. (NOTE: If you have more than one *.tax2020 data file, be sure you transfer from the correct one.)
If it doesn't find the *.tax2020 data file automatically, you can click on the blue "Browse" button in the lower left, and a small File Explorer window will open where you can point TurboTax to the location of the 2020 data file.
