Deductions & credits

Transferring data from online to desktop is a two step process.

First save your TurboTax Online return as a tax data file, then move it to the CD/Download software. 

1. Sign in and open or continue your return.
2. Select Tax Tools and then Tools from the left menu (on mobile devices, tap in the upper-left corner to open the menu).
3. In the Tools Center pop-up, select Save your 2019 return to your computer.
4. The file will download with the name taxReturn.tax2019.
5. (Optional) Locate the downloaded file and change the default filename to something more recognizable, for example JohnDoeTaxReturn.tax2019 (just make sure you don't change the filename extension to the right of the dot).

Your online return is now saved in a format can be opened in the TurboTax software.

If you started your 2019 return in TurboTax Online and want to switch to the TurboTax software, here's how.

1. Save your online return as a tax data file.
2. Sign out of TurboTax Online.
3. Install your 2019 TurboTax software.
   • If you have not purchased TurboTax Desktop software, select the product you need to complete your return.
   • Important: If your return includes a state, make sure you also install the corresponding state program(s), otherwise you'll get Error 539.
4. Once installed, choose File then Open Tax Return in the software.
5. Browse to where you saved your .tax2019 file, select it, and then select Open.
6. If you get an error, delete your tax data file and repeat these steps from the beginning.
7. Optional: Once you've confirmed that your online return opens properly in the software, you can clear your online return.

@kevingue