WAIT A MINUTE. Will your laptop have Windows 11? You can still use the installed desktop program without a disc drive. The Online version refers to doing your return by logging into a browser and is not the same as the Desktop installed version. It's just called the "Desktop program" as opposed to the Online browser version. You can still use the Desktop program on a Win 11 laptop without a disc drive. In fact for 2024 they didn't sell the CDs and you had to install it by downloading the program (although you could buy a CD for $10 after buying the License Code). The Download is not the same as using the Online version.
To move your 2024 return to the laptop. You only need the tax return data file ending in .tax2024 to transfer into 2025. You can't transfer the programs. They have to be installed from the CD or Download. You don't need to install older programs unless you need to amend or you didn't save the pdf file.
For Windows…..What I would do on the old computer, is copy the whole Turbo Tax folder that is under your Documents. That should be where the .tax files and pdf files are stored. Also if you haven't done it, I would open each year in the program and save it as a pdf file, go to FILE - SAVE TO PDF so you don't need the program installed to view your return. Copy that folder to a flash drive. Then on the new computer copy the folder (or files) from the flash drive to your Documents folder.
