TurboTax does have a program that can convert your .tax file (2004 - 2010) into a PDF file so you can open the return in Adobe Reader to view or print (no charge). See the following link :Convert your 2004-2010 TurboTax data file to PDF (you upload your .tax file to them & within a minute or two you receive your PDF file)
http://turbotax.intuit.com/support/iq/Prior-Year-Return/Convert-your-2004-2010-TurboTax-data-file-to...Each tax year has different forms, tax laws, calculations etc so it would be hard to open a prior year return in the current software, it would not show correctly or have the right calculations. For the future when you use the desktop version you can also save your return as a PDF file in case you do need to open/view/print your return without the software being installed (you can also save an online return as a PDF).
To save Desktop file as a PDF file:
- Open your tax return
- File menu - choose Save to PDF
Also, you can get a free transcript of your return from the IRS (up to 10 years), you can order the transcript online, see the following
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=232168,00.htmlOr, you can manually fill out the form & mail it
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506tez.pdfFor more information on ordering a transcript
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html
